MELBOURNE, Florida — On Monday, Melbourne Police Detectives were conducting surveillance at Palm Bay Magnet High School due to two prior burglaries that occurred at the school in the past two weeks.
Just before midnight on Monday, detectives spotted five suspects walking inside the hallways of the school who were wearing gloves and carried a hammer and flashlight. Detectives say they observed the five subjects staying together and entering several classrooms.
While in the classrooms, these suspects allegedly stole items ranging from loose change to candy. Police say that it was later discovered that the suspects had attempted to force entry into a floor safe by using sledge hammers.
Police say that an apprehension plan involving numerous officers and the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office Aviation unit was put in place, and when confronted, all five suspects fled on foot in separate directions. Two suspects were immediately apprehended, and the other three were found in various locations throughout the campus, including on a rooftop and under a portable classroom.
Three of the five suspects apprehended by police were juvenile males. The two adult suspects are 19-year-old Aaron Hayes of Merritt Island, Florida and 18-year-old Bernard Love of Palm Bay, Florida.