Three men from Miami, accused of being traveling criminals, are behind bars on the Treasure Coast.They were taken into custody after a joint operation targeting the theft of boat parts in Fort Pierce.The suspects are accused of stealing navigation systems. Officials in St. Lucie County say, thanks to a joint effort with the Martin County Sheriff’s Office South Florida Task Force Unit, they were able to make the arrests.Your neighborhood: Local coverage from WPBF 25 NewsBrendon Winters, a part-owner and technician at Fort Pierce Boat Works, says he got a call early Tuesday morning about a burglary.”I had to let everybody in because the gate was still locked,” Winters said. “There was a hole in the fence.”Drone footage released by the St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office shows suspects at 3 a.m. boarding several boats inside the business, reportedly removing parts from the vessels and going boat to boat.”They were here for a while — probably about three or four hours,” Winters said. “But they were under surveillance the whole time. Everybody knew what was going on. It was part of an operation the police were doing.”Lt. Andrew Bolonka, the communications director for the St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office, said the Martin County Sheriff’s Office Aviation Unit spotted the suspects while surveilling them for earlier boat burglaries in Martin County.Stay up-to-date: The latest headlines and weather from WPBF 25 “Counterparts in Martin County were following some suspects involved in boat burglaries,” Bolonka said. “Surveillance eventually led them to St. Lucie County.”St. Lucie launched a drone, capturing footage of two men repeatedly entering and exiting the property before crossing the street to load stolen items into a waiting vehicle.”Detectives recovered Garmin GPS screen plotters — large and expensive screens — and other lower-end units,” Bolonka said.Body camera footage from a K-9 officer shows the moment the three suspects, all from Miami, were taken into custody. They were later booked into the St. Lucie County Jail.”From what I hear, the items were recovered, kind of a best-case scenario,” Winters said. “Especially in this industry, once it leaves the gate, it’s usually never seen or heard of again. But not in this case. No, not in this case.”Officials estimate the suspects stole between $50,000 and $100,000 worth of goods.Winters thanked both the St. Lucie and Martin County Sheriff’s Offices for their work.Top headlines:Strong storms cause flooding and downed trees in Palm Beach CountyFollow us on social: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | TikTok | YouTube
Three men from Miami, accused of being traveling criminals, are behind bars on the Treasure Coast.
They were taken into custody after a joint operation targeting the theft of boat parts in Fort Pierce.
The suspects are accused of stealing navigation systems. Officials in St. Lucie County say, thanks to a joint effort with the Martin County Sheriff’s Office South Florida Task Force Unit, they were able to make the arrests.
Your neighborhood: Local coverage from WPBF 25 News
Brendon Winters, a part-owner and technician at Fort Pierce Boat Works, says he got a call early Tuesday morning about a burglary.
“I had to let everybody in because the gate was still locked,” Winters said. “There was a hole in the fence.”
Drone footage released by the St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office shows suspects at 3 a.m. boarding several boats inside the business, reportedly removing parts from the vessels and going boat to boat.
“They were here for a while — probably about three or four hours,” Winters said. “But they were under surveillance the whole time. Everybody knew what was going on. It was part of an operation the police were doing.”
Lt. Andrew Bolonka, the communications director for the St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office, said the Martin County Sheriff’s Office Aviation Unit spotted the suspects while surveilling them for earlier boat burglaries in Martin County.
Stay up-to-date: The latest headlines and weather from WPBF 25
“Counterparts in Martin County were following some suspects involved in boat burglaries,” Bolonka said. “Surveillance eventually led them to St. Lucie County.”
St. Lucie launched a drone, capturing footage of two men repeatedly entering and exiting the property before crossing the street to load stolen items into a waiting vehicle.
“Detectives recovered Garmin GPS screen plotters — large and expensive screens — and other lower-end units,” Bolonka said.
Body camera footage from a K-9 officer shows the moment the three suspects, all from Miami, were taken into custody. They were later booked into the St. Lucie County Jail.
“From what I hear, the items were recovered, kind of a best-case scenario,” Winters said. “Especially in this industry, once it leaves the gate, it’s usually never seen or heard of again. But not in this case. No, not in this case.”
Officials estimate the suspects stole between $50,000 and $100,000 worth of goods.
Winters thanked both the St. Lucie and Martin County Sheriff’s Offices for their work.
Top headlines:
Strong storms cause flooding and downed trees in Palm Beach County
Follow us on social: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | TikTok | YouTube
