MCSO: Two teens go on Burglary Spree

MCSO MAKES ARREST AFTER TWO TEENS GO ON BURGLARY SPREE CAUSING THOUSANDS IN DAMAGE

Hutchinson Island, Fl (treasurecoast.com) – The Martin County Sheriff reported two teens went on a burglary spree causing thousands in damages.

Here are the details:

One day, and more than 20-reports of auto burglaries in the areas of MacArthur Boulevard and NE Plantation Drive had MCSO Uniform Patrol and Criminal Investigations Detectives very busy and extremely determined to identify and catch the burglars.

Within days, detectives arrested 18-year old Anthony Joseph Batista of Stuart and 14 year old Joseph Fontana of Hobe Sound. The pair used a window punch to break windows of cars and trucks parked in private driveways, parking spaces and in beach parking areas. They stole anything of value. If nothing was found inside the car, they just left a wake of shattered glass and damage behind. MCSO was able to locate exterior cameras which showed images of what appeared to be a scooter traveling in the area at the time the crimes occurred. Further surveillance and through investigative methods, MCSO tracked the scooter to a parking spot on NE Edgewater Drive in Stuart. That ultimately led to the suspects. The investigation revealed Batista was driving the scooter with Fontana riding on the back the night they committed the multiple burglaries.

Batista and Fontana have each been charged with 23-felonies including thirteen burglaries, eight attempted burglaries, one count of grand theft, and one count of possession of burglary tools. Both suspects were booked into the Martin County Jail. Antony Batista has a $57,000 bond and Joseph Fontana was transferred to the Department of Juvenile Justice.

If you live in the area of MacArthur Boulevard or along NE Plantation Drive and you discovered that your car was burglarized the morning of March 8th but did not report it, please call the Martin County Sheriff’s Office. No one in Martin County should feel unsafe or uncomfortable parking their car in their own driveway at a park or the beach for fear of being burglarized. Please use this as a reminder to remove all valuables, especially firearms from your vehicles at night.

**(Florida law allows for the release of a juvenile’s identity if that person was charged with a felony.)**