A notorious beer bandit wanted for a recent rash of five-finger discounts in South Florida was arrested after he dropped his cellphone at the scene of one of his crimes, police said.Now to call my girlfriend and let her know I've got the beer--Wait, where is it?
Gabriel Gelpi Rodriguez, 25, was given connected bracelets Wednesday on multiple theft charges, Miami Police said. He was being held on more than $12,000 bond Friday, and it's unknown if he's hired an attorney.
According to Miami Police arrest reports, Rodriguez walked out of a Publix grocery store at 911 Southwest 1st Avenue Tuesday with several boxes of Corona beer in a shopping cart but paid a grand total of $0.00 for it.
He was followed by a store's general manager, who confronted him. Rodriguez made tracks but dropped his cell phone, which was recovered by the manager, the reports said.
Later that night, Rodriguez was able to steal beer from the Winn-Dixie at 1525 Coral Way, the reports said. He was checked in at the Gray-Bar Hotel after information on the phone led police to his home, the reports said.
"Where is it!?"
"Police!"
"****!"
Police said the Broward Sheriff's Office is looking at Rodriguez as a possible suspect in similar cases in Broward, including an incident of larceny at a Weston Publix last month.