The Bay County Sheriff’s Office announced today the apprehension of two men believed responsible for the theft of doors from large heavy-duty commercial trucks in Florida and Alabama, including twice in Bay County.
On February 27, the BCSO was contacted by the owner of A-1 Septic. The doors had been stolen off two pump trucks. The doors were valued at $3,000 each. The entire theft was valued at $12,000. Labor costs to fix the pump trucks would add another $4,000.
On March 4, 2023, Sapps Land Excavation in Jackson County had truck doors, headlights, and air-breathers stolen.
By using investigative techniques, BCSO Criminal Investigations was able to identify a gray van that was in the area of the two businesses at the same time the thefts occurred. Investigators learned the van was travelling to south Florida in between thefts, and sometimes into Alabama. The BCSO reached out to FDLE, FHP, the Panama City Police Department, the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office and the Hendry County Sheriff’s Office in South Florida for assistance.
On March 16, 2023, Johnston’s Trucking on Hwy 20 in Bay County was hit and doors stolen. It was learned a black van was involved in this theft in Bay County. The gray van was in south Florida. The gray van was registered to Rainel Hernandez Vigoa and the black van was registered to a family member of Vigoa.
On Sunday, March 26, 2022, the gray van and the black van were stopped outside of Tallahassee on I-10. Arrested were Rainel Hernandez Vigoa, age 39, and Ramon Fernandez, age 56.
Vigoa had a warrant out of Louisiana and is currently in the Jackson County Jail for the theft that occurred at Sapps Land Excavation.
A warrant has been issued for him in Bay County and he will be extradited to Bay County for the thefts that occurred in Bay County. Fernandez is currently in the Bay County Jail, has gone to First Appearance and has a $150,000 bond for a charge of Grand Theft from the BCSO involving the theft of the truck doors.
Additional charges are expected for Vigoa and Fernandez. Additional arrests are also expected as the investigation continues.
