NORTH MIAMI, Fla. – He blended in like any other worker, unloading boxes at the rear of a Publix supermarket. But according to North Miami police, Lenny Cesar Gonzalez wasn’t there to help. He was there to steal — again.
The 45-year-old man is facing a long list of charges after investigators say he repeatedly targeted Publix supermarkets across the area, posing as an employee to swipe cases of high-end wine from the loading docks.
His arrest on May 14 was caught on camera, bringing to an end what North Miami police described as a months-long pattern of thefts.
Officers say Gonzalez was responsible for a string of nearly identical incidents dating back to at least March, slipping past workers and security while helping himself to bottles worth hundreds of dollars.
Video obtained exclusively by Local 10 News on Wednesday shows Gonzalez at a Publix rear loading dock, moving among staffers as they unloaded pallets at the store located at 12800 Biscayne Blvd.
While others worked, Gonzalez is seen carefully selecting cases of wine and rolling them away before fleeing the scene.
Police say Gonzalez repeatedly struck multiple Publix stores, at times stealing up to $800 worth of wine in a single visit. Investigators allege he had a particular taste for Merlot, grabbing multiple bottles at once from the North Miami location.
Detectives eventually set up surveillance and were waiting for him on May 14, when he returned to yet another Publix located at 12855 Northeast Sixth Avenue before getting into an argument with the store’s manager.
Body camera footage shows officers confronting Gonzalez at the loading dock.
“Turn around. Face the wall. Put the phone down,” an NMPD officer can be heard saying as Gonzalez appears confused. “Come on, are you serious?” Gonzalez responds in disbelief before being handcuffed.
But police say there’s nothing confusing about the charges he now faces.
Jail records show Gonzalez has been charged in at least three separate cases.
The charges include multiple counts of grand theft in the third degree, burglary of an occupied structure, dealing in stolen property and petit theft with prior convictions.
Each of the cases follows a similar pattern, according to court filings: Gonzalez would arrive at a Publix loading dock, blend in with staff, and walk away with bottles or cases of wine — sometimes returning to the same location days or weeks later to repeat the crime.
In one instance, police said he stole more than 20 items over a 30-day period from different Publix locations, with surveillance footage used to connect the incidents.
“The defendant is a known shoplifter of several businesses in the area and was able to be identified by these cases, and other interactions with the defendant,” police wrote in the report.
They also said Gonzalez made a confession that was redacted in the publicly released report.
Gonzalez remained in custody at the Metrowest Detention Center, where his bond is listed as “to be set” as of Wednesday evening.
North Miami police said the investigation is still ongoing and more charges could be filed. They’re also urging other supermarkets in the region to check their surveillance footage in case they believe Gonzalez struck at additional locations.
Anyone with information on the case or suspect is urged to call NMPD or Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at 305-471-8477.
