SARASOTA, Fla. – Two southwest Florida men have been arrested after they listed stolen landscaping equipment on Craigslist and arranged to sell it to the owner who reported the theft, according to the Sarasota County Sheriff's Office.
The owner of Apex Tree and Landscape in Sarasota reported a burglary last week after a flatbed trailer and two stump grinders worth more than $50,000 were stolen from the business. He told detectives that the stolen property was posted for sale on Craigslist.
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Detectives said the owner made arrangements with the Craigslist seller to meet at the Miccosukee Service Plaza on State Road 84 in Ochopee.
The suspects, Adrian Martinez and Alfred Everett Jr., were arrested Thursday by Miccosukee police.
According to arrest reports, Everett said he was recruited by Martinez to drive to Sarasota to pick up the equipment. Detectives said Everett admitted to being paid $80 to drive Martinez in a borrowed Chevrolet Tahoe.
Detectives said Martinez refused to provide a statement.
Martinez and Everett face charges of grand theft more than $20,000. They were being held Wednesday morning at the main Broward County jail.