A Miami man was arrested on Tuesday after detectives secured a warrant for his arrest in connection with a shoplifting incident from August 2018.
Michael Nunez, 40, was charged with grand theft.
Monroe County Sheriff’s Office detectives began investigating the theft on Aug. 13, 2018 after employees at the Divers Direct in Key Largo reported a man stole 10 pairs of Pelagic brand board shorts. Four days later the suspect, later identified as Nunez, returned to the store and reportedly stole six more pairs of shorts, each priced at $65.
Detectives reviewed the surveillance footage, which showed Nunez taking the shorts, stuffing them down his pants and then exiting the store, according to the report. As he left, an employee was reportedly able to take a photo of his vehicle. Shortly after, Florida Highway Patrol officers stopped the vehicle and asked if the driver, another man, and Nunez would be willing to come to the station for an interview regarding the theft. Both men agreed and reported to an Sheriff’s Office substation.
In an interview with detectives, Nunez reportedly admitted to stealing the 10 pairs of shorts on Aug. 13, as well as stealing one pair of shorts on that date, adding the stolen items were still in the vehicle in which he was stopped. Meanwhile, the driver stated he had no knowledge of the stolen goods, and that he was simply driving Nunez to Key Largo.
The driver allowed detectives to search the vehicle, where they found six Pelagic brand shorts, six AFTCO brand shorts and six long-sleeve shirts, all with the store tags still attached. The total value of the recovered items was approximately $1,000.
Nunez was arrested on Aug. 18 for the initial theft, and again on Tuesday for the second incident. He was taken to the Monroe County Detention Center, where he was being held on a bond of $15,000.
Information in the Crime Report is obtained from reports provided by area law enforcement agencies.
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