Florida Man Arrested After Stealing 400 Pounds of Avocados From Miami Grove to Sell for Christmas Gift Money, Deputies Say
MIAMI, Florida — A 29-year-old Florida man was arrested this week after deputies say he stole 400 pounds of avocados from a fenced Miami-area grove and attempted to sell the fruit to earn money for Christmas presents for his two children.
Deputies Report Seeing Man Leave Grove With 400 Pounds of Fruit
According to an arrest affidavit from the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office, deputies witnessed the man leaving the grove carrying multiple bags of freshly picked avocados, estimated to weigh around 400 pounds. The fruit had been gathered from inside the fenced property without permission.
Authorities say the suspect loaded the bags into a Mercedes-Benz, where deputies later discovered additional loose avocados scattered inside the trunk.
Identical Bags Discovered Inside the Grove
Law enforcement officers found matching bags of avocados still inside the grove, confirming that the fruit recovered from the suspect’s vehicle had come from the same property. The grove’s owners reported that the fruit had been picked only hours earlier. Investigators stated the suspect admitted he was unemployed and intended to sell the stolen fruit to earn money for Christmas gifts for his children.
Suspect Taken Into Custody at the Scene
Deputies arrested the man shortly after discovering the stolen produce and the evidence linking him to the grove. Authorities have not yet released information regarding potential charges or his bond status.
Fruit theft has been an ongoing challenge in agricultural areas across South Florida, where high market prices make groves frequent targets for opportunistic thieves. Residents are encouraged to follow updates and share community safety concerns at SaludaStandard-Sentinel.com.
