Suspected Thief Arrested After Multi-County Crime Spree in Florida
Dania Beach, FL – July 23, 2024 – A man suspected of orchestrating a widespread crime spree across the state of Florida has been apprehended by Miami-Dade County officers. The suspect, 35-year-old Alex Luis, appeared in court on Wednesday where a judge denied him bond.
According to police, Luis began his series of thefts on July 12, starting with two businesses in Dania Beach. Surveillance footage from Bullet Motor Sports, located at 3013 Ravenswood Road, captured Luis exiting his white pickup truck and scouring the parking lot. He was seen approaching a boat and taking several expensive items.
Later that night, Supreme Marine Inc., located at 2981 Ravenswood Road, also recorded Luis loading his vehicle with boat items from their shop. He then attached a flatbed trailer to his truck. Supreme Marine’s owner, Troy Hannon, reported that Luis stole a golf cart and an electric vehicle within minutes.
“The victim had a video of the incident. It showed a two-door white Ford F250 4×4. Backs up to the victim’s boat and trailer, lifts the victim boat and trailer onto the tow hedge, wrapping the hitch and trailer with a green rope,” said Miami-Dade Circuit Judge Mindy S. Glazer.
Hannon mentioned that not all stolen items have been recovered. “A GEM electric vehicle, I have not recovered that yet. I’m getting the trailer back, but of course, he stripped it. It was a flatbed trailer with all the wooden stuff on it,” Hannon explained.
The day after targeting the Dania Beach businesses, Luis allegedly stole two boats and two trailers in Doral. Detectives also linked him to a boat theft in Citrus County near the Villages, northwest of Orlando, on Sunday. The following day, he was spotted in Collier County driving the stolen boat from Citrus County.
Luis was finally apprehended on Tuesday after a brief pursuit by Miami-Dade Police officers. “You have three cases that you were arrested for. They are fleeing and eluding a police officer and resisting without violence,” stated Judge Glazer.
Authorities noted that Luis’s distinctive characteristics and vehicle led to his arrest. Hannon expressed relief at Luis’s capture. “He got caught in Miami with a stolen, I think, a boat,” he said. “Very distinctive truck, you know. You can look at the tailgate, look at the wheels and everything, and it’s easy to spot so that was also of being able to identify who he was.”
Social media and community input played a significant role in identifying Luis. “Well, the first thing I noticed was he had a real, bushy beard, and this guy 100% had a bushy beard. I put it on social media, and of course, you guys put it on the news, and I had all kinds of people calling me,” Hannon added. “I actually had somebody who is friends with him on Instagram, sent me three photos from his Instagram. I’m kind of relieved he’s locked up. I think he’s going to go away for a while, hopefully.”
Detectives revealed that Luis, upon arrest, claimed he did not remember committing any crimes as he was high on crack cocaine.
Following his Miami-Dade County court appearance, Luis was also charged by Broward Sheriff’s Office detectives for the thefts in Dania Beach. He remains at the Miami-Dade County Jail and is expected to face judges in Broward and Citrus counties in the coming weeks.
