Three men and teen accused of hiding stolen jewelry in Chinese food charged with grand theft

MARTIN COUNTY, Fla. — Not even the tasty General Tso's chicken could hide the stolen jewelry placed inside a plate of Chinese food by three men and a teen wanted for burglary in Melbourne, a Martin County Sheriff's Office arrest report states.

About 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, the Melbourne Police Department issued an advisory to law enforcement to be on the lookout for suspects in a residential burglary. The thieves got away with a $1,000 digital camera and jewelry worth $500. Witnesses gave police a description of the four suspects and their vehicle, a silver Chevrolet Traverse with a Tennessee license plate.

About 4 p.m., a Martin County Sheriff's deputy on southbound Interstate 95 at mile marker 102 saw a vehicle with men inside who matched the description on the advisory. After stopping the vehicle, the deputy saw the digital camera in the back of the SUV, the report states.

After getting a search warrant for the vehicle, deputies found the loot on the front console inside a takeout plate of Chinese food, sitting on top of the chicken, fried rice and egg roll.

Deputies charged the driver, Michael King, 19, of Lauderhill, and passengers Henry Mims, 20, of Lauderhill, and Lavretzky Dareus, 18, of Sunrise, with grand theft.

King faces an additional charge of driving without a valid driver's license. A 17-year-old boy was taken into custody. He was charged with misdemeanor possession of marijuana and grand theft.