The Martin County Sheriff's Office announced arrests in Operation Hammer Time, a months-long investigation into a retail theft ring that targeted hardware stores across 13 counties. Major Ruben Romero said three suspects burglarized at least 40 stores from December 2025 to April 2026, including Sewell Hardware in Stuart, stealing roughly $500,000 worth of property and causing extensive damage.
Johnny Batista, 19, Roberto Hernandez-Castro, 39, and Roberto Aldana-Ferrera, 31, all from Miami-Dade County, are charged with racketeering, burglary over $1,000 in damage while masked, and burglary of occupied and unoccupied structures. Batista was arrested in February for vehicle theft and remains in Martin County Jail. Aldana-Ferrera is in custody in Georgia, while Hernandez-Castro has an active warrant. A fourth suspect, Maikell Fleitas, is deceased.
The crews used sledgehammers or other blunt objects to smash store windows and complete thefts within minutes before police or alarms could respond. Stores in Stuart, Lake Worth, Delray Beach, Boynton Beach, West Palm Beach, Fort Pierce, Jupiter and Broward County were targeted. The stolen goods were taken back to Miami-Dade County to be sold.
Romero said the thefts have real consequences for working people in the community. "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." Investigators believe burglaries occurred before December and are still looking for one additional suspect.