Wpbf.com, Viviana Lopez, November 26, 2022
Five suspects have been arrested over catalytic converter thefts over the Thanksgiving holiday.
The St. Lucie County Sheriff reports Carlos Martinez, 30, Carlos Umberto Argueta Bonnila, 51, Jose Octavio Martin Hernandez, 51, and Jose Odair Martinez Funez, 39 and Ladonte Shaquille Hill, 29 as the suspects.
The theft operation arrest happened near the 2600 block of Center Road in Fort Pierce.
A closing manager of a nearby business called 911 after seeing two suspicious ladders posted along a perimeter wall.
Once deputies were at the scene, they located four out of the five suspects.
They later apprehended the fifth at a nearby hotel.
The sheriff believes the theft suspects traveled from North Carolina.
The suspects are responsible for approximately 180 thefts from this single location.
The sheriff says they do believe this number will rise in the continuing investigation.
“Catalytic converters are targeted by thieves for their precious metals. With the arrest of these
Each suspect is being held on a $190,000 bond at the St. Lucie County Jail.
If you have any information, please contact the St. Lucie County Sheriff's Office or call Treasure Coast Crime Stoppers at 1-800-273-TIPS (8477).
News article: https://www.wpbf.com/article/five-suspects-arrested-in-180-catalytic-converter-thefts/42074811#