Sunbathers at Martin County beaches had more than just the tide to watch out for last week as detectives quietly trailed a suspect accused of targeting parked cars across the shoreline. The surveillance operation, which involved the Martin County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Division (CID) and St. Lucie County investigators, resulted in the arrest of Fort Pierce resident Joseph Zeman, 32.
Investigators began tracking Zeman as he traveled between Martin and St. Lucie County beaches, allegedly driving through parking lots looking for vulnerable vehicles.
According to Sheriff’s Office reports, detectives spotted Zeman examining many automobiles and attempting to open doors. While some automobiles were left unsecured and easily accessible, others remained secure because their owners had locked the doors.
The “beach-hopping” binge came to an end when police arrived to arrest Zeman. He now faces several accusations, including attempted and confirmed vehicle burglaries.
Because the action took place across many jurisdictions, Zeman is additionally charged with crossing county borders to commit a felony.
Reflecting on the arrest, officials observed that the suspect’s luck had finally run out, remarking that he had “Fun Fun Fun until Daddy took the jailbird away.”
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