Treasure Coast Sheriff’s investigators arrest two people in a “voodoo” case in St. Lucie County
Sheriff’s officials said they were waiting for the perfect moment.
Thieves wait near banks so that unsuspecting people can withdraw their money and leave their car unattended.
Then they hit and steal the car and get the money and sometimes other things. It is known as “sorcery”.
Sheriff’s investigators across the Treasure Coast canvassed all three counties for a truck linked to such burglaries in St. Lucie County. Investigators said he was spotted earlier this week in all three counties.
more:Rio Arcade in Port St. Lucie; The sheriff says many more arrests are expected
The two people inside, a 24-year-old woman and a 33-year-old man, both from Miami, were arrested Tuesday in St. Lucie County.
They both face charges of burglary of an unoccupied vehicle, criminal mischief, petty theft, and possession of burglary tools with intent to use them. The woman also faces charges of driving on a suspended or revoked license and providing a fake ID to law enforcement.
Robbery in Martin County: A carjacking outside Martin County Circle K caught the attention of investigators earlier this week, records show.
A man withdrew $900 from a nearby Wells Fargo Bank in the 5500 block of U.S. 1 and stopped at the Circle K to buy a drink Saturday, Martin County sheriff’s investigators said.
While the man was in the store, surveillance cameras showed two people getting out of a truck and opening his car door.
Investigators said the two people stole the $900 the man had withdrawn from the bank.
St. Lucie County Arrest: The Martin County Sheriff’s Office informed St. Lucie investigators that a Toyota Tacoma linked to the carjacking outside Circle K crossed into St. Lucie County on Monday.
Investigators tracked the vehicle and saw it stop at several banks in St. Lucie and Indian River counties, but the people inside the truck never exited any of the locations.
Investigators with helicopters from the St. Lucie and Indian River sheriff’s offices tracked the truck.
She entered St. Lucie County on Tuesday and investigators continued to monitor her.
Investigators saw the truck enter several bank parking lots. After stopping at the Bank of America in the 2300 block of US 1 in Fort Pierce, the truck moved to a nearby parking lot outside a Shell gas station.
A helicopter unit assisting with surveillance saw the Tacoma hurriedly exit the Shell parking lot, records show. Investigators searched the parking lot for a car that had been stolen and found a Nissan Altima with a broken window.
Investigators quickly found her driver in a store in the square and returned with him to his car.
The driver said the car was rented. He said that a bag inside the car containing $7,500 and the identity of the former customs employee was missing.
The helicopter, which continued to monitor the car, saw a person inside throwing a black bag onto the bridge.
Arrests: Detectives conducted a traffic stop on the vehicle and found the man and woman inside.
Investigators discovered a bag containing black gloves and a screwdriver that could be used as a burglary tool.
The woman initially gave deputies another name, but they later discovered her real name after seeing her real name on an electronic benefits transfer card.
The man told deputies he had been at Wells Fargo and Bank of America with the woman, but she was only there to give him a ride. Details of what he said were omitted from the records.
The woman told deputies she was just driving and had no idea what he was doing.
She was released on $4,750 bail and the man is being held in the St. Lucie County Jail on $55,000 bail.
more:‘We could get into a lot of trouble over this’: New details in high school football controversy
more:Father of Port St. Lucie man missing from cruise ship: ‘We just want some answers’
Mauricio La Plante is a breaking news reporter for TCPalm focusing on Martin County. Follow him on Twitter @mslaplantenews or email him at Mauricio.LaPlante@tcpalm.com.
