VERO BEACH – Early this morning, a Vero Beach man was arrested after being discovered allegedly taking items from unlocked vehicles along 18th Street.
At approximately 4:36 a.m. the Vero Beach Police Department received a report of a male subject possibly burglarizing a motor vehicle parked on the 300 block of 18th Street. The caller further stated that the subject was leaving the area on a motor scooter.
Authorities stated in a press release that upon arriving in the area Officer Brian Kerensky observed a subject operating a motor scooter within an apartment complex on the 300 block of 18th Street. As Ofc. Kerensky entered the complex he observed the motor scooter parked and a helmet and sunglasses lying on the ground.
The subject was then observed standing between two parked vehicles. When he observed the police officer, he attempted to conceal himself between the vehicles then fled on foot. The subject was stopped and detained by assisting police officers a short distance from the complex.
The suspect was identified as Daniel Murguia, 20, of Vero Beach.
At the scene, according to police, a witness reported that she had observed Murguia enter an unoccupied black SUV in the parking lot. Upon searching Murguia’s person officers located an iPhone, a pack of cigarettes and a small amount of change. The following items were located in a console on the motor scooter: two GPS units, two iPods, two flashlights, one small tin containing coins, tea lamp holders and a small pocket knife.
Police stated that further investigation revealed that the iPhone was owned by a resident from the 2200 block of Victory Blvd. The resident later reported that two vehicles parked in his driveway had been rummaged through. The iPhone had been taken from one vehicle and a GPS unit from the other.
According to police, while investigating the above mentioned incidents two additional residents reported that their vehicles had also been entered. On the 300 block of 18th Street a resident reported that a pair of sunglasses and a flashlight were taken. Both were found in Murguia’s possession.
On the 1900 block of Indian River Blvd., a resident reported that a GPS unit and some currency were taken. The GPS unit was found in possession of Murguia. Also found near the vehicle were a pair of red headphones that had been taken from the residents vehicle on the 300 block of 18th Street, according to police.
None of the vehicles had any signs of forced entry and appeared to have been unlocked at the time of the incidents. Murguia was placed under arrest and charged with the following criminal offenses: five counts of Burglary of a Vehicle, Loitering and Prowling, and Resisting Arrest without Violence.
Daniel Murguia was transported to the Indian River County Jail.
