3 suspects arrested in sneaker-stealing ring running from Treasure Coast to Georgia

Attorney General James Uthmeier has announced the bust of what he says is a retail theft ring that was snagging sneakers from the Treasure Coast to Volusia County and beyond.

Uthmeier said in a news release that three suspects were apprehended and charged with multiple felonies following a joint investigation by his Office of Statewide Prosecution and the Martin County Sheriff’s Office.

Uthmeier said the suspects were arrested following the theft of an estimated $70,000 in sneakers from the Volusia Mall in Daytona Beach and the Jensen Beach Mall. The thefts also stretched to a mall in Georgia. All the thefts happened between Oct. 21 to Nov. 17, the release said.

“Florida law enforcement and our statewide prosecutors are taking the fight against retail theft to the next level,” Uthmeier said. “We will leverage all necessary tools to keep prices low for Floridians and create an environment that allows businesses to thrive.”

Herbert Davis III, Michael McCray and Tyrone Howard were the three arrested in the gym shoe caper. They were each charged with burglary of a structure causing more than $1,000 in damage, grand theft causing damage more than $1,000 and unlawful use of a two-way communication device.

Authorities say surveillance video recorded the suspects using masks to burglarize footwear stores initially at the Jensen Beach Mall, and that they used a ladder to climb on the roof of the Volusia Mall and enter a store by cutting a hole in the ceiling.

The latest arrests come on the heels of another retail theft ring that was broken up by Uthmeier’s Office this week. On Tuesday, Uthmeier’s Office announced the arrest of Caleb Rashaun Frederick and Ne’osha Lasha Taylor, both 29 years old, on a combined 12 felony charges. Investigators say the two engaged in more than 40 documented thefts at retailers between Sept. 3 and Nov. 14 in Palm Beach and Broward counties.

They’re accused of stealing primarily household appliances and laundry products from retailers including Target, Publix, Walgreens, Dollar General, Winn-Dixie, Walmart, Macy’s, BJ’s Wholesale and JCPenney.

The case comes as Uthmeier announced in November the establishment of a Retail Theft Special Task Force. The unit is designed to break up organized retail theft rings in Florida.

The Task Force provides local law enforcement agencies with resources and removes jurisdictional barriers, enabling them to close cases. It also promotes collaboration between agencies to eliminate obstacles that could stymie investigations of crimes that cross municipal boundaries.