A team effort between South Florida law enforcement agencies, including the Broward Sheriff’s Office and the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office, resulted in the arrest of four suspected members of an organized retail theft group.
According to BSO and PBSO, on Monday Feb 6, members of the group committed a grand theft at a Walgreens store in Palm Beach County. PBSO deputies attempted to stop the subjects; however, the subjects intentionally crashed into a PBSO vehicle. The deputy did not suffer any injuries.
As the group headed towards Broward County, PBSO alerted BSO’s B.A.T. (Burglary Apprehension Team). With assistance from BSO Aviation, detectives with B.A.T. began surveilling the vehicle. Once the vehicle parked in an apartment complex in the 3800 block of Pacific Point Place in Lauderdale Lakes, BSO detectives made contact with the subjects. One subject was immediately arrested, another fled and was quickly captured, and two others fled into a nearby apartment. After a brief standoff, the subjects surrendered and were arrested.
BSO then assisted PBSO with a search warrant of the apartment. Inside, more than $200 thousand worth of over-the-counter medications and other products were found in the apartment. All four subjects were transported to Palm Beach County where they were booked into the Palm Beach County Jail.
Multiple law enforcement agencies are continuing to investigate the group. Homeland Security Investigations Miami Office and El Dorado Task Force – South are also investigating.
