Taina Reyes {BSO}
By Ryan Yousefi
A Tamarac woman was arrested after being linked to a series of grand theft robberies at local jewelry stores pulled off by a trio of thieves.
After a surveillance and follow-up investigation, Taina Reyes, 39, was identified and arrested for first-degree Grand Theft.
According to Broward County Sheriff’s Office records, the burglaries began on August 24 at American Jewelry & Diamond Exchange in Tamarac. There, a well-coordinated theft occurred and was caught on surveillance footage.
The video revealed a black female and Reyes creating a distraction, engaging the store co-owners, while a Hispanic male discreetly stole three gold chains valued at approximately $15,000.
According to the report, the male had a well-thought-out and executed sleight-of-hand technique in which he would roll the jewelry into his palm and secure it.
A day later, a similar incident occurred at a separate jewelry store in Coral Springs. The male and Reyes were caught on camera attempting to steal jewelry, employing the same distraction technique. Still, they were unsuccessful due to the vigilance of the store co-owner, who could snatch a chain from the hand of the male as he concealed it.
The case took a significant turn when Reyes returned to the first store, according to detectives, as a cover-up to purchase jewelry legally. That act enabled authorities to identify her via her Florida driver’s license.
Additionally, the Coral Springs store co-owners positively identified the suspects from a photo lineup, including Reyes.
On January 10, Reyes was contacted by law enforcement and, following the advice of her lawyer, turned herself in where she was later transferred to the Broward County Main Jail.
The report does not indicate the whereabouts or the status of the other two individuals who participated in the jewelry heists. Tamarac Talk will update as more information is released by law enforcement.
Got News? Send it to Tamarac Talk. Don’t miss reading Margate Talk, Coral Springs Talk, Coconut Creek Talk, and Parkland Talk.