NORTH MIAMI, Fla. — A 44-year-old North Miami man, Lenny Cesar González, has been arrested after police linked him to a string of wine thefts from a Publix loading dock, authorities confirmed.
According to investigators, González repeatedly entered a restricted employee-only area at the Publix located at 12800 Biscayne Blvd between March 8 and March 13, where he allegedly stole dozens of wine bottles over several visits.
Surveillance footage captured González entering the loading area and leaving with ten bags full of merchandise on March 8, including 43 bottles of wine from brands like Merlot, Tailor Made, and Jack Peak. The total value of the stolen items was approximately $796.
Police say González is a known shoplifter with a record of offenses at various businesses in the area. Before his arrest, he was reportedly involved in a verbal altercation with a manager at a different Publix location at 12855 NE 6th Ave, further drawing attention to his activities.
He was arrested and taken to the North Miami Police Department for questioning. He now faces multiple charges, including:
Burglary of an occupied structure
Grand theft
Trafficking in stolen property
A police report indicates that González has several prior convictions for petty theft, reinforcing his status as a repeat offender.
As of Thursday morning, he remained in custody at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center, with bail pending.
