Palm Aire Burglary Suspect Behind Bars
POMPANO BEACH (CBS4) – A man suspected in more than a dozen burglaries at a sprawling Pompano Beach condominium community has been taken into custody.
According to sheriff's department investigators, between February 14th and March 26th, Robert Elwood Meth, 54, stole at least $200-thousand in jewelry, laptops, televisions, cameras and cash in 17 burglaries.
Marty Weinstock was one of the victims the so-called Palm Aire thief.
"The window over there, that comes in our bedroom, that's how he came in and he ransacked the bedroom," Weinstock said.
Last Thursday Meth, whose girlfriend lives in the complex, reportedly attracted the attention of residents when he knocked on a door and claimed the condo association sent him to change light bulbs. A sheriff's detective, who was in the area doing surveillance, noticed Meth's GMC pickup backed into a parking spot. Meth appeared to be watching the front doors and windows of one of the buildings.
When the detective approached Meth's passenger door, Meth hit the gas and detective had to jump out of the way to avoid being hit. Detectives put out a "be-on-the-lookout" alert with the pickup's tag number, and Palm Beach County Sheriff's deputies stopped him a few hours later at a Chase Bank in Lantana.
Meth has been charged with aggravated fleeing, aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer and violation of probation. Burglary charges are pending as BSO's Crime Lab processes evidence.
Meth spent about 20 years, off and on, in state prison on a variety of charges including grand theft, burglary and trafficking in stolen property. He was last released in 2009 and is currently on parole.
