Facebook Marketplace is turning out to be a great place for detectives to catch thieves who list stolen items for sale, not knowing that they are being tracked.
In one particular case coming from Miami-Dade County, Florida, thieves broke into a used car lot that had customer vehicles that were due for service.
They reportedly stole 18 infotainment screens and left the cars damaged. The suspects then put them on sale online.
Fortunately, detectives traced them on the marketplace and caught them red-handed while conducting a sting operation.
Two Thieves Damaged Vehicles at Kendall Dodge
According to a report by 7 News Miami, Josmanny Alexis Valdez, 25, was arrested on Monday and is facing multiple felony charges after being accused of being involved in burglaries that caused damage worth thousands of dollars.
The arrest affidavit stated that Valdez was charged with burglary of an unoccupied conveyance, grand theft with others exceeding $3,000, and criminal mischief causing more than $1,000 in damage.
Valdez, along with co-defendant Celestino Ayala Jr., reportedly carried out the thefts at Kendall Dodge, located at 13355 SW 137th Ave. They cut through a chain-link fence to enter the dealership and targeted 2019-2026 Dodge Ram pickup trucks.
Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office detectives said the pair then broke into the vehicles and removed the infotainment systems, cutting the wiring harnesses and damaging the trucks.
The authorities stated that the suspects were linked to multiple theft incidents involving 18 infotainment systems from 14 victims.
Detectives Spot Infotainment Systems on Marketplace and Conduct Sting Operation
Detectives knew one place where the stolen infotainment systems could be found – Facebook Marketplace, where they found several Dodge Ram infotainment systems listed for sale.
They then conducted a sting operation, pretending to be buyers of two infotainment systems. Investigators watched Valdez and Ayala Jr. remove the stolen infotainment systems from a van at a Homestead residence.
Then, the suspects drove a Toyota Camry with the stolen items to Dolphin Mall, where they met the buyers, who were undercover agents. The suspects planned to sell the two infotainment systems for $500. However, they were arrested after the transaction was completed.
A search warrant allowed authorities to search the suspects’ vehicle, where they found Dodge display screens and radio modules, which were confirmed to be stolen from the dealership.
Authorities took Valdez into custody on Monday, serving him with charges related to the dealership break-ins while he was already being held at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center. Ayala Jr. has also been named as a co-defendant in the case and charged accordingly.
When Valdez appeared before a judge in bond court, the court found sufficient probable cause to proceed with the case. A bond of $10,000 was set, and as a condition of his release, Valdez was ordered to keep his distance from the Kendall Dodge dealership.