Shoplifters hit outlet mall in Ellenton. Thieves planned to send items to Cuba, cops say

Three Miami men spent Saturday at the Factory Outlet Mall in Ellenton going store to store to steal merchandise they intended to send to Cuba, according to the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office.

Yonloy Noda, 35, Jose Montelier-Solano, 30, and Mario Gonzalez, 41, were each charged with two counts of felony grand theft. More charges are possible.

Deputies say security footage captured the three men going into the Adidas store at the mall . They walked out with about $2,500 in merchandise, but they didn’t stop the thievery there, the sheriff’s office said.

An employee also witnessed the theft from the Adidas store and called the sheriff’s office. While waiting on deputies, the employee noted the vehicle carrying the suspects moved to a different part of the parking lot. Two of the suspects left to enter another store while one waited inside their van, according to the arrest report.

Deputies made contact with the suspect waiting in the parking lot. The Adidas merchandise was found inside the vehicle, along with stolen merchandise from Nike, Puma, American Eagle and other stores.

The two other suspects were taken into custody on their way back to their vehicle and all three were booked into the Manatee County jail on the grand theft charges.

Deputies returned to the mall on Sunday and determined the other stores victimized included Calvin Klein and Saks Fifth Avenue.

The suspects each posted bonds totaling $3,000 and were released Monday morning.