ST. JOHNS COUNTY, Fla. – A 50-year-old Palm Coast man was arrested in connection to a series of home appliance thefts from construction sites in Flagler and St. Johns counties.
Officials said between late Nov. 2024 and early Jan. 2025, new appliances were stolen from home construction sites in Flagler and St. Johns counties.
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Both sheriff’s offices located the suspect, James Shepard’s vehicle, which had a stolen license plate from Flagler Beach.
Investigators said the vehicle entered St. Johns County from Flagler County with an empty truck bed and returned to Flagler with multiple kitchen appliances in the bed.
Shepard drove the truck to a self-storage facility in Palm Coast with the appliances and left with the bed empty.
Police got a search warrant for his storage unit and found 22 home appliances, including refrigerators, ovens, dishwashers, a washing machine, and a dryer.
They also found smaller items like paint, doorknobs, tile grout, and air filters.
On Jan. 20, SJSO conducted a traffic stop on the Shepard’s truck and it had a refrigerator in the truck bed at the time.
He was arrested for driving without a license and unlawfully attaching a license plate not assigned to the vehicle.
Flagler County detectives had warrants for grand theft and burglary of an unoccupied dwelling. Once his case is resolved in St. Johns County, he will be transferred to Flagler County to face charges.
Detectives from both counties are seeking victims who may have purchased appliances from Shepard without realizing they were stolen.
If you bought anything from him since Jan 1., contact law enforcement.
Flagler County residents are asked to call 386-313-4911 or email TIPS@flaglersheriff.com
St. Johns County residents are asked to call 904-824-8304 or email sointelligence@sjso.org.