A joint investigation between the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office (SJSO) and Flagler County Sheriff’s Office (FCSO) has led to the arrest of James Shepard, 50, in connection with a series of home appliance thefts from construction sites in St. Johns and Flagler counties.
On January 20, 2025, SJSO Property Crimes Detectives identified a suspect vehicle—a black Chevrolet Silverado—spotted near multiple burglary sites in the Cordova Palms community. The vehicle’s license plate was stolen, and upon initiating a traffic stop, deputies discovered a full-size refrigerator in the truck bed, which was later confirmed to be stolen. Shepard was arrested for driving with an expired license and an attached stolen tag.
Investigative efforts revealed that Shepard’s vehicle was repeatedly captured on camera traveling from Flagler County into St. Johns County, often with an empty truck bed before being seen in construction areas. There, Shepard was observed unlawfully removing appliances and returning to Flagler County with the stolen items.
Following reports from construction companies in the Cordova Palms and Trail Mark communities about appliance thefts, detectives traced Shepard’s activities and discovered he had used multiple vehicles and swapped license plates.
On January 21, 2025, a search warrant was executed at Shepard’s storage unit in Palm Coast, where 22 stolen home appliances were recovered, including refrigerators, ovens, dishwashers, a washing machine, and a dryer, as well as smaller construction site items like paint, doorknobs, air filters, and tile grout.
Detectives believe Shepard committed at least eight burglaries in St. Johns County. He has been arrested and charged with Burglary of an Unoccupied Dwelling, Petit Theft, and Grand Theft. After his case is resolved in St. Johns County, Shepard will be transferred to Flagler County to face additional charges.
Authorities are seeking victims who may have unknowingly purchased stolen appliances from Shepard. Anyone who bought appliances from Shepard since January 1, 2025, is urged to contact law enforcement immediately.
Residents in St. Johns County can call 904-824-8304 or email sointelligence@sjso.org. Residents in Flagler County can call 386-313-4911 or email TIPS@flaglersheriff.com.
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