WFCN –
Two individuals were apprehended following the theft of forklifts valued at half a million dollars from a Miami-Dade County firm.
Arrest records indicate that 19-year-old Elijah Torrealba Ruiz and 20-year-old Eddie Jean-Baptiste are both facing accusations of burglary, criminal mischief, and first-degree grand theft.
Forklift Parts and Equipment reported a break-in involving the theft of fifteen forklifts to the authorities at 5:19 p.m. on Sunday, August 4.
In an interview with the police, CEO Lazaro Suarez reportedly stated that the company’s gates are locked while the office is closed. According to Suarez, a maintenance worker who was on duty over the weekend saw the gates open at about 10 a.m. on Sunday and discovered that someone had forcefully cut through the front lock.
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According to Suarez, two male suspects were caught on camera at around 1 a.m. attempting to climb the main gate and then utilizing a power saw to unlock it from the inside. The criminals came again in a black Range Rover at 3 o’clock in the afternoon and took further forklifts. Around five individuals were seen inside the car.
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After obtaining the license plate, detectives discovered the Range Rover to be deserted. At the time of the forklift theft, detectives also discovered a dark-colored four-door BMW traveling with the Range Rover.
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Torrealba and Jean-Baptiste were spotted by cops at the scene of the crime in a dark-colored BMW—the very same car that had been used in the break-in.
Upon spotting law enforcement, the two individuals in question swiftly executed an illegal U-turn and fled the scene. The arrest report states that this led to a pursuit with law enforcement.
Torrealba allegedly ran a red light and made illegal turns during the pursuit.
Despite the authorities’ repeated requests that he stop, Torrealba eventually got out of the car and fled on foot. Despite repeated orders to exit the vehicle, Jean-Baptiste remained inside, according to the police.
Jean-Baptiste resisted the police’ attempts to handcuff him. They discovered drugs and a Yale key to a forklift after searching him.
According to the police, Torrealba fought against the officers’ attempts to place him in handcuffs after they had stopped him outside of a gas station. Despite being handcuffed and thrown into the trunk of a police vehicle, he escaped and narrowly escaped capture on multiple occasions.
Subsequently, the two individuals in question were safely transferred to the Midwest Station.
Police discovered a 9 mm handgun and nine bullets in the driver’s door pocket after searching the BMW. The clothing worn by the burglars was also discovered in the trunk of the vehicle; these items were consistent with the physical description of the individuals who had broken into the forklift shop while wearing masks, as stated in the arrest report.
The reported worth of the damages was $5,000, as stated in the arrest record.
On Tuesday, the suspects were still out on bond at the jail.