The Monroe County Sheriff’s Office arrested a Key West man on Wednesday in relation to several Stock Island burglaries earlier this month.
Jerry Coleman Duckworth, 39, was charged with damaging property over $200, unarmed burglary and grand theft. Duckworth was already in jail for a related grand theft charge. In total, he faces three grand theft charges, three burglary charges and one charge of damaging property.
Several break-ins and burglaries were reported on Aug. 17, where numerous expensive tools were taken from a number of Stock Island businesses. An investigation ensued and detectives began to collect security camera footage. An anonymous witness approached detectives, and they were able to identify some of the tools that were stolen and reported the property was being traded for drugs by Duckworth.
Detectives then located Duckworth at a pawn shop in Key West, where he unsuccessfully tried to pawn some of the stolen goods. They arrested him and took him to jail, but continued to build a case against him for the other burglaries.
After collecting evidence, detectives interviewed Duckworth, who initially denied committing the burglaries. However, when presented with the existence of security footage depicting him at the locations, Duckworth rescinded his initial statement. He claimed he was “high” and only remembered being on the property, but not stealing anything. However, he said if he had stolen something, he would’ve taken the tools and sold them so he could buy crack cocaine.
Duckworth ultimately admitted to stealing a number of tools after being presented a list of stolen goods.
According to MCSO, more charges may be pending as the investigation continues.
Duckworth is being held at the Monroe County Detention Center on a bond of $150,000.
Information in the Crime Report is obtained from reports provided by area law enforcement agencies.
If you have information that could help solve a crime in the Florida Keys, call Crime Stoppers, 800-346-TIPS.