A Fort Lauderdale man who Palm Beach Police said was found prowling and opening car doors in a parking garage beneath a Midtown condo building now faces a trio of felony charges.
The 26-year-old was arrested May 27 on charges of unarmed burglary of an occupied structure, unarmed burglary of an unoccupied conveyance and possession of burglary tools with intent to use, court records show. He was released from the Palm Beach County Jail on May 31 on a $13,000 bond, according to jail records.
Police arrived about 3:30 a.m. at the building on Cocoanut Row, where a security guard told officers that the person was still in the garage, an arrest report said.
The man told police that he was making a delivery to a different address but ended up in the parking garage, where he went to throw something away and lost his house key, the report said. The man “appeared visibly anxious and extremely nervous” while talking with officers, the arrest report said.
The man told police that his car was nearby, police said. Officers found a Honda Accord with a woman in the driver’s seat who was taken into custody on a warrant from Broward County, the report said.
Officers found several unlocked vehicles nearby, including a gray Range Rover with an interior that looked as if someone had gone through it, the report said.
The security officer told police that via surveillance video, she watched the man get into the Range Rover and then a Ford Explorer parked nearby, the report said. The Range Rover’s owner confirmed for officers that someone had gone through his items, including clothing, police said.
Officers found that the man had a flashlight and one glove, the report said. Officers found the matching glove, a black ski mask and a pair of wire cutters in the man’s car, where he sat while officers investigated, court records show. Officers noted in the arrest report that the temperature at the time in Palm Beach was 81 degrees.
The man was ordered not to have contact with the Range Rover’s owner or any witnesses, court records show.
Palm Beach police regularly issue alerts warning car owners to keep their vehicles locked and alarmed when parked.
Kristina Webb is a reporter for Palm Beach Daily News, part of the USA TODAY Florida Network. You can reach her at kwebb@pbdailynews.com. Subscribe today to support our journalism.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Daily News: Man charged with burglary after prowling Palm Beach garage, police say
Reporting by Kristina Webb, Palm Beach Daily News / Palm Beach Daily News
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By Kristina Webb, Palm Beach Daily News | USA TODAY Network
