MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Fla. — “Stealing is the way of life,” Vanessa Equisquiza told a Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office deputy during her arrest on Tuesday, according to deputies who accused her and two others of “a recurring pattern” in nearly $160,000 in thefts in just a few months in South Florida.
According to deputies’ arrest reports, Equisquiza, 49, and her two accomplices, Willshaye Davis and Nayeli Corrales, were grabbing “high-value merchandise” at “cosmetics and facial-care departments,” and hiding it in their “purses or tote-style bags” in Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach counties.
The trio “would go out and commit thefts at different stores on the same day” and “were selling all the stolen items each day,” a M-DSO deputy wrote, according to arrest reports.
Their alleged behavior from Dec. 23 to Feb. 26 in Miami-Dade wasn’t new. Miami-Dade court records show Davis, 25, was arrested for retail theft in 2023 and last year, and Corrales, 23, was arrested for grand theft in 2002.
“Equisquiza has been arrested and convicted on two previous theft cases,” a deputy wrote about her Miami-Dade record, according to the new arrest report.
Deputies arrested Equisquiza at Southwest 147 Avenue and 58 Street, and accused her of carrying about 8 grams of marijuana in a clear bag in her purse, according to an arrest report.
Deputies also arrested Corrales on Tuesday, and were searching for Davis, who was on the run.
On Wednesday, Equisquiza faced 29 new charges in three cases, including 13 counts of dealing in stolen property, nine counts of third-degree grand theft, and five counts of petit theft. In Florida, having two or more prior convictions for theft allows a new petit theft charge to be a felony.
A judge set Equisquiza’s bond to $87,500 and ordered a hearing so she can show that criminal proceeds aren’t used for bail, according to court records.
Correa faced 13 new charges in two cases: Seven counts of dealing in stolen property, five counts of third-degree grand theft, and retail theft.
Deputies list alleged thefts at CVS and Navarro stores in Dade
Oct. 5, Jan. 6, and Feb. 17: Surveillance video shows Equisquiza stealing about $735 in merchandise on Oct. 5, and Equisquiza, Corrales, and Davis stealing nearly $2,287 in merchandise on Jan. 6, and about $5,053 on Feb. 17 from the CVS at 9031 SW 107 Ave.
Dec. 23: Surveillance video shows Equisquiza and Davis stealing about $349 in merchandise from CVS at 2962 Aventura Boulevard.
Jan. 20: Surveillance video shows Equisquiza and Davis stealing nearly $2,920 in merchandise from Navarro at 11865 SW 26 St.
Jan. 24: Surveillance video shows Equisquiza, Corrales, and Davis stealing nearly $3,388 in merchandise from CVS at 11890 Biscayne Boulevard.
Jan. 28 and Feb. 21: Surveillance video shows Equisquiza stealing $649 in merchandise on Jan. 28 and $649 on Feb. 21 from CVS at 12701 SW 42 St.
Feb. 5: Surveillance video shows Equisquiza and Corrales stealing about $1,980 in merchandise from Navarro at 13250 Biscayne Boulevard.
Feb. 11: Surveillance video shows Equisquiza, Corrales, and Davis stealing about $405 in merchandise from CVS at 8740 Bird Road.
Feb. 13: Surveillance video shows Equisquiza, Corrales, and Davis stealing about $2,040 in merchandise from Navarro at 1230 West 29 St., in Hialeah.
Feb. 17: Surveillance video shows Equisquiza, Corrales, and Davis stealing about $2,387 in merchandise from CVS at 8765 South Dixie Highway, in Pinecrest.
Feb. 23: Surveillance video shows Equisquiza, Corrales, and Davis stealing about $1,333 in merchandise from CVS at 3250 Grand Ave., in Coconut Grove.
Surveillance video also shows Equisquiza and Corrales stealing about $1,562 in merchandise from Navarro at 3949 SW 8th St.
Local 10 News Assignment Editor Carson Merlo contributed to this report.
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