What started as an early-morning visit to a Key Largo repair yard ended with a pair of Massachusetts visitors in jail, after deputies say they slipped into an unlocked Mercedes and touched off a dumpster fire on the property.
The Monroe County Sheriff’s Office said two 36-year-olds, Evan Robert Aubrey of Winchester and Chabar Sara Duangsay of Fitchburg, were arrested Monday in connection with the incident. Deputies said no one was hurt.
According to CBS12, an employee at the Key Largo shop spotted the pair inside a parked Mercedes at about 7:45 a.m. The suspects allegedly told investigators they got into the vehicle because it was unlocked. Aubrey is accused of flicking a lit cigar into a nearby dumpster, which deputies say sparked a fire that was contained on the business’s property.
Surveillance shows alleged burglary
The Sheriff’s Office said security cameras captured 36-year-old Duangsay removing items from the Mercedes while Aubrey appeared to direct her, according to Local10. Deputies said Duangsay was seen wearing black latex gloves in the footage.
The business involved is Wheaton’s Service Center & Towing, whose website, Wheaton’s Service Center & Towing, lists the shop at 101500 Overseas Highway in Key Largo.
Charges and next steps
Aubrey is facing charges of arson, accessory and criminal mischief, while Duangsay has been charged with burglary, according to CBS12. Investigators said the flames were confined to the dumpster and quickly contained, and that no injuries were reported.
Jail and court records show both suspects were booked into the Monroe County detention center in Key West with no bond listed and an arraignment set for June 16, according to Local10. Records indicate they remained in custody awaiting that hearing.
What this means for drivers
The case is a textbook reminder of how fast a small oversight - like leaving a car unlocked or valuables visible - can spiral into something far bigger. Law-enforcement campaigns often hammer home the same point with slogans such as "Lock It or Lose It." One example comes from the Polk County Sheriff's Office, which urges drivers to secure their vehicles and keep tempting items out of sight.
