Man arrested for stealing fishing rods

A 27-year-old Orlando man was arrested for stealing five fishing rods worth $4,500 from a boat in Key Largo.

Michael Kenneth Nieves was charged with burglary and grand theft.

Deputies and later Detectives were called to the Azul Del Mar hotel in Key Largo about 10:22 a.m. Sunday regarding a vessel burglary. Deputies arrived to find the victim, Nieves and a witness all at the scene.

The witness stated Nieves parked a vehicle on hotel property and was requesting a jump. The witness was in the process of jumping Nieves’ vehicle when the victim approached them. The victim looked into Nieves’ vehicle and saw his five missing fishing rods. The victim later told Detectives had just previously walked out to his docked boat behind the Moon Bay Condominiums — property adjacent to the Azul Del Mar hotel — and discovered five fishing rods had been stolen from his vessel. The victim reviewed security video and the video showed a man wearing the same clothes — save a gray hooded sweatshirt — as Nieves walking away from his boat with one of his fishing rods.

The conversation between the victim and Nieves became heated and that’s when the witness stated he called 911.

Nieves later admitted to walking around on boats nearby to collect live bait. Nieves claimed he bought the rods.

Detective Ian Barnett showed Nieves a photo from the security footage. Nieves then admitted he was wearing a gray sweatshirt earlier, but he left it on the dock. Nieves then asked if he did steal the rods, what would happen to him.

Nieves was taken to jail.

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