2 organized retail theft suspects arrested in Spring Hill
According to the Spring Hill Police Department, the men are being investigated for dozens of similar crimes across the nation.
The investigation began after undercover agents in Spring Hill's shopping district spotted a man, later identified as 30-year-old Pedro Gonzalez, walk into an Ulta store with a backpack.
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After Gonzalez left the store with that same backpack bulging, detectives moved in and stopped the Mercedes he was traveling in.
Bodycam video obtained by News 2 shows the interaction between law enforcement and two men in the vehicle, neither of whom spoke English.
Police reported Gonzalez is a Cuban national who only has a passport. Meanwhile, the driver—identified as 35-year-old Yandy Ortiz— has a Florida driver's license, which was expired.
Surveillance footage from Ulta captured Gonzalez filling a backpack with merchandise. During the stop, police found that the backpack was filled with expensive products. A duffel bag was recovered from the trunk, which was also loaded with more merchandise.
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'In this day and age we communicate,' said SHPD Lt. Mike Foster. 'There are databases out there.'
A background check revealed that Gonzalez is linked to 88 organized retail thefts across the nation, totaling more than $133,000 in stolen merchandise.
'We are definitely in the right place at the right time, but it is old school police work, being out there looking with your own eyes, watching for suspicious behavior,' added Foster. 'We can have all the technology in the world but oftentimes we forget it's simple, sitting in the parking lot one day can yield amazing results of criminal activity.'
Both men are being held in the Maury County Jail facing organized retail crime and felony theft charges.
Officials said at least one police agency in Maricopa, Arizona is seeking to extradite Gonzalez on similar charges.
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