Mangonia Park man arrested in car thefts from airport rental lot

A Mangonia Park man was arrested Wednesday in connection to the alleged thefts of four vehicles in July from a car rental lot near Palm Beach International Airport.

Jaylon Griffin, who turned 23 on Sunday, faces one count each of armed robbery, grand theft and unlawful use of a twoway communications device. He was being held without bail Friday.

Authorities say Griffin was among a group of young men and teens who stole two cars and attempted to steal two others July 13 at the Budget Rental Car on Belvedere Road. Griffin was tied to car thefts after investigators traced his cellphone activity, according to a Palm Beach County Sheriff ’s Office arrest report.

A search warrant for his phone found that Griffin left his home, traveled to the crime scene and then returned home within the time frame of the robbery, the report said.

“Them boys made it safe?,” he reportedly asked in a text message sent about 90 minutes after the robbery.

Surveillance video also captured Griffin driving a Nissan Altima that was stolen from the car rental lot, according to the report.

A security guard said he was keeping watch that morning when four cars approached the exit. One man pointed a semiautomatic gun and demanded that the guard open the gate.

The guard complied and two cars were successfully taken. The two other cars crashed as the automatic security gate closed again. Two men fled the crashed the vehicles and were picked up by the other two vehicles, the sheriff ’s office said.