A group of criminal illegal aliens linked to Venezuelan Tren de Aragua gang committing organized theft crimes in the Central Florida area were arrested by Polk County Sheriff’s Organized Retail Crime Unit detectives. The group is suspected of committing crimes across the Central Florida area, and detectives are working with the Statewide Prosecutor to file additional organized crime charges against them.
In early March 2025, store personnel at the Sam’s Club in north Lakeland contacted law enforcement regarding a group of five suspects who forcibly attempted to steal a shopping cart filled with high-end liquor valued at $3,200.
The suspects, described as Hispanic males, filled up the shopping cart with 14 cases of liquor, according to law enforcement. As they proceeded toward the exit, an employee grabbed the cart to stop them, but they rammed the cart into the employee, injuring her. She was able to keep them from moving the cart any further, but they grabbed two cases of liquor out of the cart and ran to a silver Ford Focus, then drove away.
The Focus became disabled as they tried to drive it over a concrete curb in the parking lot, and the suspects left it behind fleeing the area on foot. Through their investigation, local detectives determined they eventually summoned an Uber and left the area…