The Martin County Sheriff's Office announced arrests in a major retail theft operation that targeted hardware stores across the Treasure Coast. Three men have been identified in connection with Operation Hammer Time, a burglary ring that hit at least 40 stores across 13 counties between December 2025 and April 2026, including Sewell Hardware in Stuart.
Major Ruben Romero said the suspects are Johnny Batista, 19; Roberto Hernandez-Castro, 39; and Roberto Aldana-Ferrera, 31. All three lived in Miami-Dade County and transported stolen goods back there to sell. The theft ring stole roughly $500,000 worth of property and caused significant damage to stores across Martin, St. Lucie, and Palm Beach counties. A fourth suspect, Maikell Fleitas, is deceased. Batista is currently in Martin County Jail after being arrested in February for vehicle theft, while Aldana-Ferrera is in custody in Georgia. A warrant has been issued for Hernandez-Castro's arrest.
Investigators say the crews used sledgehammers or other blunt objects to smash store windows and completed thefts within minutes, before police could arrive or alarms could be triggered. Hardware stores in Stuart, Fort Pierce, Jupiter, Lake Worth, Delray Beach, Boynton Beach, and West Palm Beach were targeted, as well as stores in Broward County. The first known theft connected to Batista occurred at Sewell Hardware in Stuart in December 2025.
Romero explained the broader impact of these crimes on local residents. "There's already inflation that we notice severely in our state, and the more they steal, the more damage they cause, the more expensive things are," he said. "People can't go to work because they can't afford the tools." The suspects face charges including racketeering, burglary over $1,000 in damage while masked, burglary of an occupied structure, and burglary of an unoccupied structure. Investigators say there are burglaries that occurred before December and they are still looking for one additional suspect.