BROWARD COUNTY, Fla. — Three suspects have been arrested in connection with a series of burglaries targeting copper wiring and tools across Broward County, authorities said.
Selvin Mathew, 49, Garrett Smith, 57, and Charles Webb, 39, were taken into custody Sunday and face charges including burglary, grand theft, criminal mischief, and possession of burglary tools, according to jail records.
Detectives from the Broward Sheriff’s Office had been conducting surveillance on the trio, who are suspected of committing multiple thefts of copper wiring and construction tools from businesses throughout December and January.
On Sunday, authorities observed a box truck with no license plate and a white Kia arriving at a Deerfield Beach business. Mathew acted as a lookout while Smith and Webb entered the property through a hole in the fence, loading about $35,000 worth of copper wiring into the truck. Both vehicles were later stopped, and all three suspects were arrested.
Investigators linked the vehicles to multiple other burglaries, including:
Dec. 7: Pompano Beach business — $74,000 in copper wire rolls and equipment stolen from shipping containers and work trucks.
Dec. 15: Concrete business in Pompano Beach — $32,000 in items stolen after cutting a gate lock.
Dec. 22: Public works facility in Pompano Beach — nine concrete saws worth $17,388 stolen.
Dec. 29: Broward County Water and Wastewater Services — $34,000 in tools and copper wiring taken.
Jan. 12: Construction site in Pompano Beach — $30,000 to $50,000 in copper wire and tools stolen.
After their arrest, Webb admitted to Sunday’s burglary and acknowledged involvement in several other thefts. Authorities continue to investigate the full extent of the burglaries linked to the suspects.
