MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Fla. – A Miami man was arrested Tuesday by the Florida Highway Patrol after he and another person stole a refrigerated semi-trailer that contained $100,000 worth of assorted frozen poultry, authorities said.
According to an arrest report, the semi-trailer is valued at $80,000 and the freightliner it was attached to, which was also stolen, is valued at $60,000.
Recommended Videos
The victim reported that the theft occurred early in the morning on Sept. 15 near his home in the area of Old State Road 9 and Northwest 155th Lane.
Troopers said the victim had parked the truck and trailer on the county swale near his home the night before, and at about 2 a.m., his sister called him to ask if he had already left because she no longer saw the truck or the trailer.
Authorities said the truck driver immediately walked over to the area where he had parked and saw that the truck and trailer had been stolen.
According to the report, license plate readers picked up the stolen vehicle that same day on the northbound lanes of Interstate 95 near the Golden Glades Interchange, along with a white Nissan that was following behind it.
Troopers said the suspect arrested Tuesday, Raul Bello, 49, was spotted driving the Nissan on Sept. 17, leaving an apartment complex on West Flagler Street.
Authorities said they obtained cellphone records for Bello, including text message logs and incoming and outgoing calls, which showed that he and the co-defendant, whose name wasn’t listed in the report, had been communicating before, during and after the theft.
He was arrested Tuesday on charges of grand theft of cargo, grand theft of a vehicle and unlawful use of a communications device.
According to the arrest report, Bello is currently on probation for charges related to burglary, assault and possession of illegal weapons.
As of Thursday morning, he was being held at the Metrowest Detention Center without bond.