Felipe and Castaneda Arrested in $78K Statewide Walmart Theft Spree
SEBASTIAN, Fla. — Two Miami men with a long history of shoplifting across Florida were arrested Thursday after attempting to steal nearly $4,000 worth of merchandise from a Walmart in Sebastian, capping a theft spree totaling more than $78,000 in losses.
Yasnier Rojas Castaneda, 30, and Heclian Rodriguez Felipe, 28, were both charged with grand theft following the attempted heist at the Walmart on U.S. Highway 1. Castaneda faces additional charges of resisting an officer and providing false information to police.
According to authorities, loss prevention staff recognized the suspects from a previous incident on September 6, in which they allegedly stole nearly $6,000 worth of vacuums, cookware, and clothing by concealing items in tote bins.
When police arrived around 4:40 p.m. Thursday, Castaneda attempted to flee inside the store but was caught. Felipe was detained outside near the garden center. Communication with the suspects, who spoke limited English, was handled via Google Translate and a Spanish-speaking officer.
Police found a key fob hidden under a vehicle tire, which unlocked a 2025 Hyundai sedan in the parking lot. Inside, officers found stacks of tagged merchandise, including items linked to a recent theft in Vero Beach. The car was impounded.
Castaneda initially provided a fake name and someone else’s driver’s license but was later identified through credit cards found in his possession.
Walmart officials linked Felipe to 16 thefts and Castaneda to 41, with a total loss of $78,873.22 statewide. On Thursday alone, 197 items valued at $3,923.87 were recovered from abandoned carts.
Both suspects were booked into the Indian River County Jail and issued trespass warnings from Walmart. Authorities believe the two worked in tandem, using similar tactics at multiple locations—concealing high-value items in bins and abandoning carts to avoid confrontation.
