MIAMI-DADE, FL — A Miami-Dade man was arrested after deputies caught him stealing a large number of avocados from a private farm during an overnight patrol.
Deputies from the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office were patrolling an agricultural area in Redland around 2:30 a.m. when they spotted a man dressed in dark clothing inside a commercial avocado grove. The suspect was identified as 29-year-old Edel Perez.
Deputies observed Perez actively picking avocados from the farm’s trees. Nearby, a black Mercedes-Benz contained multiple bags of freshly picked avocados and other produce. Authorities estimated the haul at roughly 400 pounds, valued at about $800.
According to the arrest report, Perez entered the property through a damaged section of fencing. When questioned, he admitted the avocados were not his and said he intended to sell them to buy Christmas gifts for his children. Deputies noted that Perez is currently unemployed.
Perez was taken into custody without incident and booked into the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center. He faces charges of third-degree grand theft and trespassing on an agricultural site, both felonies under Florida law. His bond was set at $5,000.
The avocados were recovered, and no injuries were reported.
