STUART — Vehicle tires were reported stolen from another auto dealer this week.

On Thursday morning, police were called to Carl’s Buick, Pontiac, GMC on U.S. 1 where tires and wheels from two sports utility vehicles had been stolen, according to a news release.

The SUVs were left sitting on blocks, spokesman Sgt. Marty Jacobson said. Other vehicles were found on blocks with the equipment still intact while there were also vehicles found partially on blocks, Jacobson said.

The value of the property stolen and damaged was in excess of $6,500.00.

On June 19, an officer found four trucks sitting on wooden blocks at the Advantage Ford dealership on U.S. 1.

Anyone with information about these incidents is asked to contact Officer T.J. Delancy at 220-3900 or Treasure Coast Crime Stoppers at 1(800) 273-TIPS.

STUART — Police are looking for information on the theft of tire trucks from a car dealership.

While on patrol at 2:17 a.m. today Officer Brian Huffman found four trucks sitting on wooden blocks with their tires removed at Advantage Ford at 4000 S.E. U.S. 1 in Stuart.

A fifth vehicle was on blocks but the wheels had not been removed.

The value of the trendy wheels and tires was estimated at $5,600.00.

Anyone with information about this crime is asked to contact Officer Brian Huffman at (772) 220-3900 or Treasure Coast Crime Stoppers at (800) 273-TIPS.

A suspect in the credit card scheme.

The schemes have been reported in Wal-Marts in Stuart and Jupiter.

On each occasion, suspects are using the credit card account information on a counterfeit credit card to purchasing gift cards, police said. The suspects are driving a silver newer model Toyota mini-van, police said. They are believed to be out of the Dade or Broward County area.

Another suspect in the scheme. Photos provided by Stuart police.

Linda Owens

Fort Lauderdale resident Linda Marie Owens, 51, was arrested in Wisconsin and extradicted back to Stuart, police spokesman Sgt. Marty Jacobson said.

Owens was charged based on the alleged diversion theft at the Sears Store, 3020 S. Federal Highway on May 5th, 2007 when she and an accomplice took money out of a cash register at that store, Jacobson said.

Fish sculpture reported stolen from its downtown Stuart spot.

The 90-pound stainless steel sculpture made by local artists Neil and Kyle Hardwick was bolted and welded to a post outside the Stuart Heritage museum at 161 S.W. Flagler Ave.

The sculpture was last seen at 11:30 p.m. on Saturday, according to Stuart police.

The sculpture was first stolen last December. It was recovered shortly afterward.

Anyone with information about the stolen artwork is asked to contact the Stuart Police Department at (772) 220-3900 or Treasure Coast Crime Stoppers at (800) 273-TIPS.

Martin County Sheriff's deputy Joseph Angelico gets a platter of two entrees from Red Lobster waitress CJ Biegner during last year's event. Photo by David Spencer.

The annual Tip-A-Cop fundraising event to benefit Special Olympics Florida is scheduled for today. Members of the Martin County Sheriff’s Office, Stuart Police Department, the Florida Highway Patrol and other local law enforcement agencies will be volunteering at Red Lobster in Jensen Beach from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. until 10 p.m. assisting the dining room staff.

Gratuities from patrons during those times will benefit Special Olympics Florida as part of the local fundraising effort for the 2009 Law enforcement Torch Run.

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Keith Hall

The man and teen accused of kicking and punching him to unconsciousness Sunday night now face murder charges.

Keith A. Hall, 38, had been kicked and punched unconscious during a Sunday night robbery. He died at Martin Memorial Hospital on Wednesday after being removed from life support shortly before 5:20 p.m., police spokesman Sgt. Marty Jacobson said.

Hall was robbed outside the Right Way convenience store in the 1800 block of Palm Beach Road at 9:35 p.m.

Kobe Anderson

James LaForteza

Hall had been trying to buy drugs when he was robbed and beaten, police said. Sunday was also the day Hall had been released after being incarcerated for the past year on marijuana possession charges, according to state Department of Corrections records.

Keith Hall

STUART — The man who was kicked and punched until he was unconscious during a Sunday night robbery has been identified by police as Martin County resident Keith A. Hall.

Hall, 38, remains on life support in an area hospital, Stuart police spokesman Sgt. Marty Jacobson said.

Hall was robbed outside the Right Way convenience store in the 1800 block of Palm Beach Road at 9:35 p.m.

Witnesses reported to police that Stuart residents James Louis LaForteza, 29, and Kobe Anderson, 15, had beaten the man into unconscious, according to police reports. Both were arrested early Monday morning and now face robbery and attempted murder charges.

James LaForteza

Kobe Anderson

Anyone with additional information about this case is asked to contact Det. Jeff Kittredge at (772) 220-3906.

James LaForteza

Kobe Anderson

Police say the 38-year-old man was robbed of $40 outside the Right Way convenience store in the 1800 block of Palm Beach Road. Stuart police responded to the parking lot at 9:35 p.m. after they got a call that the man was beaten, according to police spokesman Sgt. Marty Jacobson.

The man, whose name has not yet been released, was trying to purchase drugs at the time of the robbery, Jacobson said.

Witnesses reported to police that Stuart residents James Louis LaForteza, 29, and Kobe Anderson, 15, had beaten the man into unconscious, according to police reports. One woman driving by told the pair to stop when she saw them standing over the man, kicking and punching him on the ground, police said. She and another witness then performed CPR on the man until medics arrived.

LaForteza and Anderson both face charges of robbery and attempted murder.

Cortina Wobbleton

Cortina Wobbleton, 26, told investigators with Stuart police and Martin County Sheriff’s Office that she was aware that Lamar Lloyd, 21, and Damian Louissaint, 21, had robbed a Pizza Hut and a Sunoco gas station while she and her children were outside waiting in the car.

Damian Louissaint

Lamar Lloyd

Authorities said the two men walked into the pizzeria in the 2000 block of U.S. 1 at about 9:30 p.m. before one man brandished a revolver and the other watched the door.

Minutes and about 2.5 miles south later, the men entered the gas station in the 4500 block of U.S. 1 and demanded money, according to sheriff’s reports. They also took Black & Mild cigars, Newport cigarettes, Dentyne Ice gum and an energy drink, the reports show.

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