Man accused of stealing more than 100 key fobs from Florida airport

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (CBS12) — Detectives say they've arrested a man from Miami after he is suspected of stealing dozens of key fobs from rental car companies at the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport.

The Broward County Sheriff's Office (BSO) said detectives began an investigation in late 2021, when an unknown man stole more than 100 keys from a handful of rental car companies at the airport. On multiple occasions in 2022, the burglar returned and committed similar crimes.

Finally, detectives made a breakthrough in Dec. 2022.

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BSO Airport District detectives said they identified 31-year-old Armando Martinez as the suspected burglar.

On Tuesday, Jan. 31, the sheriff's office said detectives arrested Martinez for 143 counts of burglary of a conveyance and six counts of grand theft. He confessed to his crimes. The estimated total loss of the key fobs is more than $77,000.

Detectives said they have also notified law enforcement at the Miami-Dade International Airport after similar crimes occurred there.