A suspected member of a Cuban burglary ring has been arrested and charged in connection with a major residential burglary in Palm City last month. Darel Monza Guerra, 35, was taken into custody early Thursday morning at his Lehigh Acres home after weeks of investigation by the Martin County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO).
The burglary, which targeted a residence in the Cobblestone/Stuart West community, resulted in the theft of hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of property. MCSO detectives believe the crime was meticulously planned and executed.
READ: Florida Resident Charged In New York: Laundering $300 Million For Sinaloa Cartel
According to investigators, Guerra was dropped off near the gated community, bypassed security measures, and proceeded directly to the targeted home. It is believed he was monitoring the victim’s social media accounts to determine when the family was away. Once inside the community, Guerra cut the power to the house and disabled the security cameras, allowing him to operate undetected for hours.
Guerra then stole the victim’s vehicle, leaving it abandoned nearby. Detectives believe he may have planned to return for the vehicle later, but a concerned citizen noticed the abandoned car and contacted the MCSO. This led deputies to the victim’s home, where the burglary was discovered.
READ: Retired Florida Math Teacher Wins Appeal In Bernie Sanders Free Speech Case
Despite the suspect’s efforts to cover his tracks, MCSO detectives, with assistance from the Lee County Sheriff’s Office, the Miami-Dade County Sheriff’s Office, and the City of Miami Police Department, were able to identify Guerra as the suspect. A search warrant was executed at his home this morning, where evidence linking him to the crime was found.
Guerra was arrested and booked into the Martin County Jail. His bond has been set at $1.2 million. The investigation is ongoing, and detectives believe Guerra may be part of a larger burglary ring targeting affluent communities.
Please make a small donation to the Tampa Free Press to help sustain independent journalism. Your contribution enables us to continue delivering high-quality, local, and national news coverage.
Connect with us: Follow the Tampa Free Press on Facebook and Twitter for breaking news and updates.
Sign up: Subscribe to our free newsletter for a curated selection of top stories delivered straight to your inbox.
