More charges were expected to be filed against a Miami trio who officials said stole thousands of dollars in hair care products from several CVS stores in Florida, including the Treasure Coast. The two men and woman stole the merchandise from a CVS in Indian River Shores just before their arrests last week along State Road A1A.
“A lot of crimes are committed across jurisdictional boundaries making it vital that law enforcement agencies share information,” Indian River Shores Public Safety Department Deputy Chief Mark Shaw said. Shaw said Shores police will bring additional charges against the suspects, though details were not yet available.
A joint effort between the Martin County Sheriff’s Office, Indian River Shores Public Safety Department and Indian River County Sheriff’s Office led authorities to arrest the individuals. Shores police used Flock Safety License Plate Reading Cameras to track the trio traveling north in a red 2018 Cadillac sports utility vehicle.
“Effective crime-fighting requires seamless cooperation between law-enforcement agencies,” Martin County Sheriff William D. Snyder said. “Collaboration is a force multiplier, enabling us to confront criminal challenges head-on with excellent outcomes.”
Caitano Deubasto, who also goes by Caitano Di Vasto Gomez, 20, Marelys D. Matos, 43, and Juan Jose Hernandez-Ruiz, 25, were each charged with grand theft. Hernandez-Ruiz and Deubasto were held Wednesday at the Martin County Jail on a $750,000 bond, while Matos was held on a $1 million bond.
Investigators said the trio stole nearly $4,000 total worth of hair care products from CVS locations in Martin County and other parts of Florida. The value and type of items stolen from the store in Indian River Shores were not yet available.
“Organized retail crime rings in Florida have cost vendors and consumers millions in losses,” Martin County sheriff’s officials said. “According to the National Retail Federation, the thefts started to spike in 2021 as the agency saw a 69-percent increase from previous years.”
On Aug. 9, Martin County deputies learned the suspects stole merchandise from the CVS locations in Hobe Sound and Stuart. The trio – seen on surveillance footage – were connected to at least five separate cases in Martin County and one in Indian River County, along with others throughout Florida.
Deputies said Matos and Deubasto took the items while Hernandez-Ruiz acted as the lookout and getaway driver.
Matos and Deubasto would go in the stores, walk to the haircare aisle and dump the merchandise into bags, reports show. The pair would then leave the businesses without paying and get into the SUV.
The trio traveled north to the CVS located in the 5000 block of State Road A1A and stole more items.
“Our officer first spotted them pulling out of our CVS,” Shaw said. “They were stopped less than a quarter-mile from (the store).”
Shores police, with the help of Indian River deputies, conducted a traffic stop on the SUV and detained the suspects. The trio was taken down to Martin County, arrested and booked into jail.
The SUV was towed to the sheriff’s office for evidence.
“They are still in the process of a search warrant to see exactly what was in the vehicle,” Shaw said.
