LOWER KEYS — Monroe County Sheriff’s Office detectives continue to investigate a series of vehicle burglaries despite the arrest of a 20-year-old man who they allege was implicated in some of them.
Detectives are investigating burglaries to at least nine vehicles recently between Rockland Key and Bay Point. All nine vehicles were left unlocked, reports say.
Suspects entered the vehicles and took various items that had been left inside, including two handguns, a computer, cellphone, GPS, wallets and a purse, cash and sunglasses, reports say.
The burglaries took place on Ed Swift Road, Emerald Drive and Parrot Lane on Big Coppitt Key, Bay Drive on Bay Point and Calle Dos on Rockland Key.
The Sheriff’s Office highly recommends always locking vehicle doors and removing valuable items from inside. The vast majority of vehicle burglaries are crimes of opportunity; suspects generally go car to car, checking for open doors and leaving vehicles alone if they are locked.
On Monday, the Sheriff’s Office charged Adrian Diaz of Big Coppitt Key with a litany of charges including burglaries in Bay Point and Rockland Key, but detectives are continuing the investigation, said spokeswoman Becky Herrin.
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.