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Men who used firecrackers during Rolex thefts from Florida malls caught in Greenville, police say

Kevin Triana, Ivan Maldonado accused of casing businesses in Greenville for similar crimes

Men who used firecrackers during Rolex thefts from Florida malls caught in Greenville, police say

Kevin Triana, Ivan Maldonado accused of casing businesses in Greenville for similar crimes

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Men who used firecrackers during Rolex thefts from Florida malls caught in Greenville, police say

Kevin Triana, Ivan Maldonado accused of casing businesses in Greenville for similar crimes

Two men who are accused of stealing Rolex watches from Florida malls after setting off firecrackers to scare patrons and employees were arrested Sunday in Haywood Mall, deputies said. Donnie Porter, with Greenville police, sent out a news release about the arrest.“On Sunday, April 22, at approximately 2:30 in the afternoon, GPD officers received credible information from the Sunrise Police Department in Sunrise, Florida that one of their fugitive suspects was in the Greenville area, possibly at the Haywood Mall.“This suspect, 22-year-old Kevin Steven Pena-Triana, was wanted by a number of jurisdictions in Florida for a series of robberies. Triana would pretend to be a customer interested in purchasing a Rolex watch. As he was holding the timepiece, an accomplice would light firecrackers to simulate gun shots, and yell that someone was shooting a gun. As the commotion was unfolding and shoppers and employees were taking cover, Triana would steal the watch by running out of the store with it.“GPD officers got a good description of the suspect including what he was wearing. They quickly located the individual at Haywood Mall and took him into custody without incident.”Officers said they determined Ivan Alexander Loaizas Maldonado was with Triana while at the Haywood Mall. Maldonado was arrested and charged with Interfering with a police officer for giving false information to Greenville officers during questioning.Greenville police seized several items from Triana’s vehicle, a 2014 Volkswagen Jetta, including cell phones, jewelry, various clothing items and a bag of fireworks.Surveillance video from the April 8 robbery near Orlando, Florida, (above on this page) shows frantic shoppers and employees running for cover and hiding in stock rooms. The video shows Triana trying on a $16,900 Rolex, then running away still wearing the watch after the explosions start. Eleven people were injured during the robbery, that led to reports of an active shooter inside the mall. Firecrackers were also used as distractions in similar robberies at Sawgrass Mills Mall in Sunrise, Florida, on Dec. 31 and Dadeland Mall in Miami on April 15, investigators said.Triana is being held without in the Greenville County Detention Center on a fugitive from justice charge. He is also under a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement hold. He is charged with grand theft of more than $10,000, conspiracy to commit grand theft and discharging a destructive device. Triana will be extradited to Florida to face charges.

Two men who are accused of stealing Rolex watches from Florida malls after setting off firecrackers to scare patrons and employees were arrested Sunday in Haywood Mall, deputies said.

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Donnie Porter, with Greenville police, sent out a news release about the arrest.

“On Sunday, April 22, at approximately 2:30 in the afternoon, GPD officers received credible information from the Sunrise Police Department in Sunrise, Florida that one of their fugitive suspects was in the Greenville area, possibly at the Haywood Mall.

“This suspect, 22-year-old Kevin Steven Pena-Triana, was wanted by a number of jurisdictions in Florida for a series of robberies. Triana would pretend to be a customer interested in purchasing a Rolex watch. As he was holding the timepiece, an accomplice would light firecrackers to simulate gun shots, and yell that someone was shooting a gun. As the commotion was unfolding and shoppers and employees were taking cover, Triana would steal the watch by running out of the store with it.

“GPD officers got a good description of the suspect including what he was wearing. They quickly located the individual at Haywood Mall and took him into custody without incident.”

Officers said they determined Ivan Alexander Loaizas Maldonado was with Triana while at the Haywood Mall.

Maldonado was arrested and charged with Interfering with a police officer for giving false information to Greenville officers during questioning.

Greenville police seized several items from Triana’s vehicle, a 2014 Volkswagen Jetta, including cell phones, jewelry, various clothing items and a bag of fireworks.

Surveillance video from the April 8 robbery near Orlando, Florida, (above on this page) shows frantic shoppers and employees running for cover and hiding in stock rooms.

Kevin Triana
WYFF News 4
Kevin Triana
The video shows Triana trying on a $16,900 Rolex, then running away still wearing the watch after the explosions start.

Eleven people were injured during the robbery, that led to reports of an active shooter inside the mall.

Firecrackers were also used as distractions in similar robberies at Sawgrass Mills Mall in Sunrise, Florida, on Dec. 31 and Dadeland Mall in Miami on April 15, investigators said.

Triana is being held without in the Greenville County Detention Center on a fugitive from justice charge. He is also under a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement hold.

He is charged with grand theft of more than $10,000, conspiracy to commit grand theft and discharging a destructive device. Triana will be extradited to Florida to face charges.