The Florida attorney general’s Office of Statewide Prosecution in cooperation with Hillsborough and Miami Dade authorities have announced the arrests of four men in connection with an organized retail crime ring that allegedly carried out a series of retail warehouse burglaries across the state, including the Tampa and Miami areas. According to the investigation, the defendants not only burglarized multiple businesses, but also stole vehicles to help carry out the crimes.
During a warehouse burglary on September 4, 2015, suspects entered Global Beauty Image, and stole over $100,000.00 worth of shampoo and miscellaneous beauty products by breaking through a wall adjoining the warehouse section and a neighboring business, Hillsborough County deputies said.
On September 19, 2015 investigators say the suspects stole two white Ford Econoline vans which were then utilized in a warehouse burglary at a business located within the same complex. Forced entry was made by smashing through a wall of the Tampa warehouse, where approximately $300,000 worth of surveillance equipment including digital cameras and digital video recording devices was stolen. Investigators state that the suspects loaded the equipment into two stolen vehicles and fled south on Interstate 75 with the merchandise. The vans were recovered in Miami.
During the course of the ensuing investigation, authorities learned of a similar warehouse burglary at a battery retailer in Doral where the suspects allegedly broke through a business wall with a sledge hammer, stealing cases of Kodak Max batteries and loading the stolen property into a van parked outside.
Based on the results of the investigation authorities have arrested Eduardo Batista, 48, of Hialeah; Yosvany Batista, 30, of Miami; Alberto Diaz Napoles, 48, of Miami; and Alberto Hernandez Napoles, 28, of Miami on charges of conspiracy to commit racketeering, grand theft over $100,000 and grand theft of motor vehicles.
Warrants were issued for Isoil Polo, 36, and Marcos Rodriguez, 20, both of Miami on the same charges.
“A lot of times these cases are exported to Miami and then they’re exported to other parts of the world and they get big money out of that,” said Hillsborough County Sheriff spokesperson Larry McKinnon. “We’re excited to be able to shut down such an organized network of burglaries that have reached out through the state of Florida.”