Deputies: Sonny's BBQ thief steals car, leaves dog inside to die

Benjamin Garcia, 34, booked into Marion County Jail

MARION COUNTY, Fla. – A man who stole multiple electronics from from a Sonny's BBQ restaurant also stole a vehicle with a dog inside and dumped it, leading to the dog's death, according to the Marion County Sheriff's Office.

Benjamin Garcia, 34, was arrested on Thursday.

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Deputies identified him as the man seen on surveillance stealing electronics from Sonny's BBQ on Highway 484 in Belleview in the early morning hours of July 28.

Investigators said Garcia broke a window to get inside and stole three televisions, two computer monitors, one laptop and two shop vacs. The items were valued at $2,460.

Most of the items were recovered near a retention pond not far from the business.

Deputies said around 2:30 p.m. on the same day, a woman parked her car in front of the Boost Mobile/Ship Safe Store on Highway 484 in Ocala and left the car running.

She also left her dog, a Poodle and Chihuahua mix named "Prince," in the running vehicle.

When she came back a few minutes later, her car and dog were gone.

The car was found abandoned at Pilot Gas Station on SW 135 Street in Ocala. Someone called a local towing company to remove the vehicle from the parking lot. 

The woman's dog was found dead on the passenger floorboard.

A few days after a surveillance image from the Sonny's BBQ burglary was posted to the Marion County Sheriff's Office Facebook page, Garcia's family members in Connecticut identified him, according to detectives.

Detectives received a tip that Garcia was possibly at a home on SW 21 Court in Marion Oaks.

When they arrived, they took Garcia into custody.

Investigators said Garcia admitted to the burglary at Sonny's BBQ and the vehicle theft, but said he knew nothing about the victim's dog in the car.

Garcia has been charged with Commercial Burglary, Grand Theft, Grand Theft of a Motor Vehicle, Burglary of a Conveyance and Animal Cruelty.

He remains in the Marion County Jail on a $25,000 bond.