The case of two masked bandits who stealthily pawed through Indian River Shores residents’ unlocked cars and garages all the way from Pebble Bay Estates to the Beach Road John’s Island condos earlier this month hinges on DNA and fingerprint evidence left in a luxury car stolen, taken on a joy ride and ditched in Gifford.

Two suspects have been identified – both juveniles – and one was taken in for questioning, but no charges have been filed yet in the June 13 crimes.

Both John’s Island Security and the Indian River Shores Public Safety Department have been on high alert since the teens allegedly walked around town undetected looking for valuables in vehicles in Pebble Bay Estates, on Sunrise Terrace across from Town Hall, and then around 2:45 a.m. entered John’s Island on foot near the South Ocean Gate by presumably jumping a chain-link fence.

The Shores detectives are working with Indian River Sheriff’s Office crime-scene technicians, and detectives familiar with the Gifford area and similar property crimes. Regarding the teen suspects, who are known from previous incidents to be non-violent thieves, Shores Deputy Chief Mark Shaw said, “We’re pretty confident on both but one should be a slam dunk and we hope he gives us what we need on the second.

“We think they got dropped off but are still not sure,” Shaw said, adding that no suspicious vehicles were captured on the town’s license plate reader cameras during the right time frame, so the thieves could have made their way on foot north from the Vero Beach city limits at the 7-Eleven.

An email blast from John’s Island Property Owners’ Association Security to residents said, “Both individuals were wearing ski masks and gloves. The individuals stole two bikes from an unknown location and rode them to the 650 Beach Road condominium, where they left them and stole one vehicle.”

The youthful suspects, who were seen on John’s Island video feeds in multiple locations when the footage was reviewed, gained entry to garages at four Beach Road condo buildings, rummaging around for valuables and cash. None of the vehicles showed sign of forced entry and nothing major was stolen out of the cars or garages – except the Audi SUV which was recovered from Gifford and impounded for crime-scene processing. 

“At 3:48 a.m., both individuals were seen on video leaving the property in the stolen vehicle out of the East Main Gate. These individuals were on property approximately 45 to 50 minutes,” the alert said.

Shaw said Shores officers have “stepped up patrols in the overnight hours.” Regarding the unlocked vehicles and garages, John’s Island General Manager Mike Korpar said, “Obviously, we have reminded our residents to take extra precautions moving forward.” Korpar said he could give no further information than what was in the email blast because the case is an ongoing investigation.

Residents and visitors might notice extra care now being taken at the John’s Island entrance gates to check identification and write down the license plate of every vehicle – even vendor or service vehicles that go in and out on a daily basis. Gate access will be limited during the evening hours. Exit gates will not automatically open, so a security officer will need to manually let people out.

The alert from John’s Island Security emphasized the rarity of the breach, and efforts to make sure it won’t happen again.

“In 54 years, this is only the second incident of this nature that has ever occurred. We are very proud of our Security operations in keeping this community safe and secure. The Security Department maintains a video/audio system for all entrance/exit gates to John’s Island which includes the recording of all license plates for review purposes,” the email from John’s Island Security said.

Officers have doubled their perimeter patrols, working in tandem with Indian River Shores Public Safety officers to maintain greater visibility at night.

“Guests, vendors, and contractors are required to show ID and are entered into a digital database to access the property. We have 24/7 Security patrol of our 1600 acres and over 70 cameras throughout the community,” the community alert said.

John’s Island officials assured residents that a complete audit of John’s Island Security Department operations and procedures was being conducted. “We will be taking any necessary actions to improve the safety and security of the community. This includes researching AI video analytic technology, increasing nighttime staffing and patrols, increasing cameras, and 24/7 proactive monitoring of our community.”