A Golden
Gate Estates man was arrested Wednesday after deputies say he stole water
heaters and other plumbing supplies from his former employer and then sold them
to an undercover officer.
Jorge
Ramirez, 28, 5845 Everglades Blvd. N., faces felony charges of dealing in
stolen property and grand theft.
According
to arrest reports, Ramirez quit working for South Florida Plumbing, 299
Airport-Pulling Road N., in July. Shortly after Ramirez’s departure company officials
learned that Ramirez had been stealing material, faucets and fixtures, but they
had no proof linking him to the thefts.
On Sept.
10, an undercover deputy negotiated with Ramirez to purchase two water heaters
and two faucets. Later that evening the deputy met with Ramirez at his
residence and paid $600 cash for two water heaters that were new in boxes and
two faucets that appeared used and not in boxes.
Company
officials confirmed that the water heaters were stolen and provided invoices
with serial numbers that matched the serial numbers on the items purchased by
the undercover deputy.
