A suspect has been arrested in the theft of solar panels at Eastport in The Villages.
Green Scene Land and Water Group, which services The Villages, had reported the theft of solar panels in and around the new Eastport Town Center, according to an arrest report from the Wildwood Police Department.
A manager with Green Scene told police that multiple solar-powered irrigation components have been stolen over the past few weeks from various job sites. The manager said that the most recent theft occurred between 4:30 a.m. and 5 a.m. Wednesday. The theft was captured on video surveillance with footage showing a blue 1997 blue pickup. The surveillance also picked up the truck’s license plate. The manager said the truck had been spotted near Corbin Trail and Craig Court.
An officer went to the site with the Green Scene manager who identified a solar panel, power inverter and deep-cycle battery which had been stolen from the company. The items were found the bed of the truck.
The owner of the truck was identified as 65-year-old Mikel Frank Gilmartin of Tavares who admitted he had planned to pawn the items to raise cash. He admitted he was “financially struggling and living out of his truck.” A criminal history check revealed he has a previous theft conviction in Georgia.
He was arrested on charges including theft. He was booked without bond at the Sumter County Detention Center.