In a significant breakthrough, police have arrested a suspect linked to the theft of nearly $150,000 worth of generators and copper wiring from Trump National Doral, which occurred just weeks before the LIV Golf 2023 Team Championship.
Patrick Steve Smith, 32, a Miami resident, was taken into custody on Wednesday. He faces grand theft and burglary charges, according to police records.
The theft occurred on October 2, when $147,707 worth of Honda generators and copper wire cables were stolen from the golf resort. This equipment was being stored for the upcoming LIV Golf event later that month.
Doral Police Chief Edwin Lopez stated that the perpetrators entered the property disguised as construction workers and made off with dozens of generators. Surveillance footage revealed a white pickup truck used in the getaway.
Following the public announcement of the theft, police received anonymous tips, one of which identified Smith as a suspect. Cell phone data confirmed that Smith’s phone was in the vicinity of Trump National Doral at the time of the crime.
Smith, however, denied any involvement, claiming he was in Pennsylvania visiting his son on the day of the theft. He provided flight information supporting that he left for Pennsylvania that day but returned the same evening. Smith also mentioned he misplaced his phone upon his return, yet data from his phone placed him near his home two hours before the theft.
Chief Lopez indicated that Smith is part of a larger theft ring operating between Miami-Dade and Palm Beach counties.
Smith appeared in court on Thursday and was granted a $30,000 bond. A prosecutor noted that Smith is currently on probation until 2025 for a case in Broward County. Florida Department of Corrections records show he previously served a two-year prison sentence for a 2014 grand theft case.
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