SWEETWATER, Fla. — A 38-year-old man from Miami-Dade County was arrested Monday in connection with the theft of more than $105,000 worth of impact windows from a warehouse in Sweetwater earlier this year, police said.
According to an arrest report from the Sweetwater Police Department, officers responded on Feb. 27 to a warehouse at 1800 NW 129th Ave. after a semi-truck trailer loaded with approximately $105,000 in ES impact windows was reported stolen.
The report states that the victim told police the trailer had been parked behind the warehouse the previous day and was discovered missing the next morning.
Surveillance video obtained exclusively by Local 10 shows that around 7:50 p.m. on Feb. 26, two individuals dressed in dark clothing arrived in a white Freightliner Cascadia, hitched it to the trailer, and drove off toward Northwest 129th Avenue, according to police.
Investigators later determined that a black Chevrolet Equinox bearing a Florida tag registered to Yudier Fabregat Martell was used to transport him to the scene and follow the stolen trailer as it entered Florida’s Turnpike from Northwest 41st Street.
Police said investigative findings indicated Fabregat Martell shared “the same physical characteristics” with one of the individuals captured on video.
Local 10 News obtained that video of the suspect taking off with the container that cops say filled with impact windows.
Authorities also determined that a cellphone associated with him was at the scene at the time of the theft.
Police said Fabregat Martell was taken into custody on Monday and transported to SPD’s general investigations unit for questioning.
After being advised of his Miranda rights, they said Fabregat Martell admitted to being present at the scene but told investigators he had been paid to drive there and did not know the purpose of the trip, according to the report.
Police said Fabregat Martell showed detectives a photo on his cellphone that he said was sent to him the day after the theft.
They said the photo depicted the stolen windows, based on shipping and product labels. Fabregat Martell told investigators he did not know who sent the image but believed “the message was related to the sale of the stolen merchandise,” the report states.
Police said Fabregat Martell denied knowledge of the crime and the surrounding circumstances before they ended the interview with him.
The business owner told Local 10’s Rosh Lowe that in 28 years, he has never experienced anything like it, and said he still has not recovered the windows, adding that all of his customers were impacted.
Jail records show Fabregat Martell is facing one count each of grand theft of cargo valued at $50,000 or more, third-degree grand theft of a vehicle, and dealing in stolen property.
As of Tuesday afternoon, he was being held at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center, where his bond was set at $70,000. He was also placed on a Nebbia hold, requiring him to prove that the money used for bond comes from a legitimate source.
He was also placed on house arrest and ordered to stay away from the victim and the victim’s business.
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