Deputies say a trio of teen workers at a Hialeah UPS Store turned their part-time jobs into a full-blown side hustle, quietly diverting boxes of brand-name goodies worth about $40,000.
According to investigators, an 18-year-old and two teenage co-workers are now facing criminal charges after roughly 80 packages went missing from the store over several weeks. The alleged victims, a husband-and-wife team who sell Bath & Body Works and Victoria’s Secret items through Amazon and directly to customers, told authorities they had dropped off dozens of shipments that never made it to buyers. Detectives say one suspect was ultimately arrested at his high school after they traced the couple’s distinctively packaged merchandise to online resale listings.
As reported by NBC 6 South Florida, the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office believes the losses occurred between March 21 and April 13. On April 13 alone, the victims reportedly dropped off ten boxes, yet only five were scanned into the system. Surveillance video, investigators told the station, allegedly shows a store employee pulling five boxes out a rear door while an accomplice appears to act as a lookout. Some of the couple’s easily recognizable packages then surfaced for sale on social media, and 18-year-old Angel Caleb Pagan was arrested on charges that include second-degree grand theft and attempted tampering with physical evidence.
How deputies say the theft unfolded
Detectives say this was not a grab-and-go spree for personal use, but a setup geared toward resale. The number of missing parcels combined with the social media listings suggests what authorities describe as a commercial-style operation rather than a one-off porch theft. Across the country, law enforcement has increasingly found stolen retail goods flowing through online marketplaces, which have drawn scrutiny from task forces and prosecutors looking to clamp down on organized schemes. CBS News has noted that these platforms can offer a quick way to fence stolen items, and the SafeWise 2025 Package Theft Report estimates that roughly 104 million packages were stolen nationwide last year, a reminder of just how tempting bulk shipments can be for thieves.
Legal fallout and next steps
According to NBC 6 South Florida, Pagan was booked on charges of second-degree grand theft and attempted tampering with physical evidence, and two 17-year-olds are also facing charges tied to the case. Under Florida law, theft of property valued between $20,000 and $100,000 is classified as grand theft in the second degree and is subject to the state’s sentencing rules. The statute that lays out those dollar thresholds and categories can be found in Florida Statute §812.014.
What sellers and shoppers can do
Small businesses and individual sellers who rely on third-party drop-off points for shipping may want to build in extra safeguards for valuable inventory. Options can include requiring signatures, using hold-for-pickup services, and adding insurance on high-dollar shipments. Security tools such as carrier lockers and access points, along with keeping serial numbers and clear photos of packaging, are among the steps experts often recommend to help track and document goods in transit. SafeWise also urges people to report suspiciously cheap listings to the platform hosting the sale and to local law enforcement so investigators have a better chance to preserve evidence and follow the digital trail.
The Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office continues to investigate, and prosecutors will decide how to move forward with the cases. Hoodline will track court filings and hearings and update this story as the legal process plays out.
