VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. – The Volusia Sheriff’s Office said it’s now looking for a man, and possibly two suspects, it believes stole a boat and trailer last week. They’re believed to possibly be tied to a larger operation or ring.
News 6 first told you last week that the boat and trailer were stolen in broad daylight from a New Smyrna Beach family’s driveway right after they left for the day.
“We’re now working closely with other agencies to see if this is a ring,” said Sheriff Mike Chitwood.
The sheriff said a couple pf witnesses across the street from the boat owner saw someone pull up and take the trailer. Countywide technology helped them track the thieves’ van down - first to a local auto shop.
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“They then go to the Daytona Beach airport where they rent an F-150 pickup truck, they wait an hour, they go back to the boat and sit there for a while they cover the boat with a tarp,” he said.
That truck was then turned in at the Fort Lauderdale airport. The suspect used his own name to rent and turn the truck in.
Deputies said they’re now looking for Eliecer De La Fuente.
“We have an arrest warrant out for him. He’s a Cuban national and he’s got a $50,000 bond on him and we haven’t identified the second scum bag yet,” said Chitwood, “This is probably an organized ring, clearly they were out shopping. They’re driving through neighborhoods. I mean Spruce Street in New Smyrna isn’t a common street people are going to wander through.”
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