TAMPA, Fla. – Four Tampa men have been arrested in connection with a $1 million organized shoe theft ring after a rooftop burglary at the Treasure Coast Mall in Martin County. Authorities say the suspects cut through the mall’s roof to access the Champs Sporting Goods store, stealing hundreds of Nike shoes, which were bagged, tagged, and loaded into a getaway vehicle.
Following the October heist, the Martin County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Division tracked the group, linking them to multiple rooftop burglaries across Florida and into Georgia.
Martin County Sheriff John Budensiek confirmed that Herbert L. Davis III, Michael McCray, Jimmel Raiford, and Tyrone Howard were arrested outside a mall in Volusia County after attempting another theft. Investigators say the suspects stole 400 to 500 pairs of high-end shoes in the Martin County burglary alone.
Sheriff Budensiek revealed that surveillance footage showed a U-Haul and follow car linked to the group, leading detectives to a Home Depot in Tampa where the suspects had rented a large ladder, circular saw, and the U-Haul.
“This case involves highly sophisticated criminals,” Budensiek said. “They conduct pre-surveillance, cut precise holes in mall roofs, and use counter-surveillance to avoid detection.”
The thefts are believed to span from Mississippi to South Georgia and as far south as Naples, Florida. The suspects are thought to have resold the stolen merchandise, contributing to roughly $1 million in losses this year.
Detectives caught three of the men in the act during a similar burglary in Volusia County, observing them performing counter-surveillance while cutting into the mall roof.
“This case highlights the incredible work of our CID detectives, preventing further crimes across the region,” the Martin County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement. Authorities continue investigating the string of burglaries, and additional arrests are expected.
It remains unclear where all the stolen shoes ultimately ended up, though authorities confirmed some were transported back to Tampa.
