A Florida resident has been taken into custody following allegations of pilfering a substantial quantity of avocados from a grove near Miami.
Edel Perez, aged 29, was apprehended after law enforcement officials reportedly witnessed him exiting a secured avocado grove with sacks containing approximately 400 pounds of avocados, as detailed in the Miami-Dade Sheriffs Office arrest affidavit.
As reported by Fox News, Perez allegedly confessed to authorities that his unemployment status drove him to steal the fruit, intending to sell it to purchase Christmas gifts for his two children. The incident unfolded around 3:10 a.m. on Monday, when officers noted an individual clad in black attire harvesting avocados within the grove's confines.
The grove, marked by a fence and a "No Trespassing" sign, was the scene where deputies discovered bags of avocados in Perez's Mercedes-Benz, with matching bags left in the grove containing freshly picked produce. Additionally, officers reportedly uncovered loose avocados in the trunk of Perez's vehicle.
The stolen avocados were valued at an estimated $800, according to the arrest affidavit. Perez now faces legal repercussions, including charges of trespassing on an agricultural site and third-degree grand theft.
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