FCSO Arrests Two Suspects, 16 & 18, Connected To Palm Coast Car Burglaries

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Palm Coast, FL – Two suspects have been arrested in connection with several car burglaries that occurred in Palm Coast on Friday morning. The Flagler County Sheriff’s Office (FCSO) received reports of car burglaries that occurred in the P-section of Palm Coast and a home burglary on Postman Lane. According to the FCSO, several firearms were stolen from the home due to an unsecured garage. At around 5:40 AM on Friday, a deputy saw two males walking near Royal Palms and Point Pleasant. One of the males was a 16-year-old on probation for a misdemeanor and was subsequently arrested for violating curfew set by his probation. During an interview, the 16-year-old and 18-year-old Josiah Merriweather admitted to committing the vehicle burglaries, home burglary, and vehicle theft. A Point Wood Drive resident told deputies that the males dropped backpacks off in his yard. Inside the backpacks, deputies found four handguns, two smartphones, an iPod, ammunition, gun magazines, keys to a Chrysler, cords to electronics, loose change and containers of change, and several other items. Two more guns were found on Poinbury Drive and were confirmed to have also been stolen from the same Postman Lane residence. A stolen black Chrysler Town and Country and a stolen Saturn Vue were found on Elm Street in Bunnell and returned to their owners.

(Photos courtesy of the FCSO)

“These two subjects went on a crime spree, but they didn’t get away with it,” said Flagler County Sheriff Rick Staly said. “An alert patrol deputy along with our detectives did a great job in quickly solving and recovering stolen property. The stolen firearms had the potential for violent crimes in the future or be sold on the black market or traded for drugs." The 16-year-old is being charged with armed burglary, theft of a firearm, grand theft auto, petit theft, burglary of a conveyance, and violation of probation. Merriweather faces charges of armed burglary and theft of a firearm.

(Merriweather mugshot courtesy of the FCSO) 

In order to prevent yourself from becoming a victim, you are asked to remove valuables from your car and to make sure that you lock your car, home or business. “These crimes were again crimes of opportunity," said Staly. "I ask our community to lock their cars, don’t keep car keys in cars and keep their garage doors closed. Let’s work together to keep our community safe. I encourage you to watch our most recent crime prevention video ‘Disaster’ on our homepage www.FlaglerSheriff.com.” Copyright Southern Stone Communications 2017.
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