PORT SAINT LUCIE, FL – Two men from Miami-Dade County are facing allegations of orchestrating retail thefts across Palm Beach County and the Treasure Coast, with a recent incident captured on surveillance video at a local Home Depot. The footage shows one of the suspects attempting to exit the store with a shopping cart filled with merchandise valued at approximately $1,800. However, the suspect abandoned the cart and fled when confronted by a store employee who called the police.
Authorities have identified the suspect as 48-year-old Adonis Perez Gutierrez. Following the attempted theft, police quickly located the suspects’ vehicle as it was heading onto the I-95 southbound ramp, likely returning to Hialeah, the suspects’ hometown.
Just a month later, on March 11, the same suspects were reportedly spotted at the same Home Depot. This time, Perez Gutierrez allegedly tried to hide about $300 worth of goods in a tote bag, while his accomplice, 50-year-old Antonio Gonzalez Martinez, allegedly acted as a lookout. A loss prevention specialist recognized their method of operation and immediately alerted authorities.
In response to the rise in such organized retail crimes, Governor Ron DeSantis has signed new legislation aimed at enhancing penalties for thieves who travel across jurisdictions to commit crimes. This law empowers law enforcement to seek more severe charges for offenders involved in these types of cross-border thefts, potentially leading to harsher sentences upon conviction.
Currently, both suspects are facing charges of retail theft and are being held at the Saint Lucie County Jail. The investigation is ongoing as authorities work to determine the full extent of their criminal activities.