MIAMI – Several South Florida law enforcement agencies on Wednesday arrested eight men accused of stealing more than $1.5 million in air conditioning units.
The eight -- Ariel Perez-Estupinan, 37; Orlando Noriega, 41; Jose Miguel Ortiz, 43; Mahe Batista, 34; Alejandro Llanes, 46; Nelson Leon Borges, 40; Pablo Rafael Mesa Barquin, 40; and, Jose Antonio Alvarado, 52 -- were charged with grand theft as part of "Operation Cool Down."
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The men targeted new housing developments, including Grand Lakes Estates, Kendall Square, Isles of Bayshore, and Isles of Oasis, and stole the A/C units, police said. They also burglarized homes and stole units from the residences.
According to arrest affidavits, some of the men were seen stealing the A/C units while others were seen buying the stolen units.
The investigation began in 2012 when police recovered a stolen A/C unit from a housing development.