A Greenacres man has been put behind bars, accused of a string of 55 burglaries targeting construction sites across Port St. Lucie, said the local police. Arnoldo Perez-Miraba, 50, allegedly made off with circuit breakers and electrical panels from homes in mid-construction, items valued in the thousands.
The burglaries began coming to light on February 19, after 12 homes were reported broken into along Northwest Sweetwater Drive, with WPTV reporting nearly $15,000 worth of circuit breakers stolen. In the following week, to further fleece properties of their valuable parts, Perez-Miraba is alleged to have hit an additional 27 sites. As noted by detectives and reported by WFLX, the nearly $28,000 in thefts spread across several blocks, with Southwest Britton Avenue, Southwest Macelli Way, and Southwest Triton Way among the targeted locations.
The thefts then briefly stalled before resuming on March 8, with five more constructions sites joining the tally of burglaries; items totaling almost $15,000 were reported taken. These occurrences took place in the 500 block of Southeast Ranch Oak Circle and the 600 block of Southeast Lake Falls Street.
It was a clue left at one of the early crime scenes in Northwest Sweetwater Drive that led to the break in the case. Police lifted a fingerprint that was crucial to begin to unravel the web of thefts perpetrated across the city. WPLG details how Perez-Miraba was then linked to the full spree of 55 burglaries through various interviews and evidence found at different locations.
Perez-Miraba, who by trade is a painter and was not connected to the work on any of the burglarized homes, purportedly found these properties and burglarized them to later sell the parts for profit. He was taken into custody on April 5. Charged with multiple crimes including but not limited to burglary, grand theft, and dealing in stolen property, Perez-Miraba could be facing a long stint in jail. His bond stands at approximately $1.2 million at the St. Lucie County Jail.
