Home / Crime and Justice / Fireworks Heist: $30K Stolen Days Before 4th of July
Fireworks Heist: $30K Stolen Days Before 4th of July
3 Jul
Summary
- Nearly $30,000 worth of fireworks were stolen from a stand.
- The theft occurred in the Walmart parking lot on Baymeadows Road.
- Suspects allegedly cut locks and made two trips in an SUV.
A devastating theft has left a Middleburg mother facing a significant financial loss just days before the Fourth of July. Nearly $30,000 worth of fireworks were stolen from a temporary sales stand located in the Walmart parking lot on Baymeadows Road. The incident occurred around 6 a.m. when suspects allegedly cut through heavy-duty locks securing the merchandise.
The stand operator, Juana Hovious, who had taken time off from her hairstylist job to sell fireworks for extra income, discovered the theft on Friday morning, just one day after receiving her initial shipment. She described the moment of discovery as devastating, with her heart dropping when she realized the lock was missing and the entire stock gone.
Investigators are pursuing leads, including reviewing Walmart security footage. They suspect the perpetrators may have made two trips using an SUV to transport the stolen fireworks. Hovious expressed uncertainty about the future, stating that company policy could make operators financially responsible for lost inventory unless insurance covers the loss.
Hovious speculates the stolen fireworks, valued at approximately $28,000, will likely be resold. Police are urging anyone with information to contact the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office to assist with the investigation.
