Massachusetts couple arrested in Key Largo burglary and dumpster fire

A Key Largo auto shop worker says two Massachusetts visitors broke into a parked Mercedes sedan and then set off a dumpster fire nearby, turning an early morning at Wheaton’s Service Center & Towing into a burglary and arson case. Monroe County sheriff’s deputies arrested Evan Robert Aubrey, 36, of Winchester, and Chabar Sara Duangsay, 36, of Fitchburg, after an employee spotted the pair around 7:45 a.m. and called authorities.

Deputies say security video showed Duangsay removing items from the Mercedes while Aubrey appeared to direct her, and that Duangsay was wearing black latex gloves. Investigators also say Aubrey told the employee they were burglarizing the car because it was unlocked. Aubrey faces allegations including arson, accessory and criminal mischief, while Duangsay is accused of burglary. No injuries were reported, and the fire was contained on the business’s property.

The incident happened at Wheaton’s Service Center & Towing, 101500 Overseas Highway, a family-owned business that says it has served Key Largo drivers since 1972. That location, on the island’s main highway corridor, puts repair shops, customers and nearby residents close together, which is why a dumpster fire at the site could have become a broader safety threat if it had spread.

Deputies say the fire began after Aubrey threw a lit cigar into a dumpster. The business was forced to deal with both the burglary and the fire investigation at the same time, a combination that heightened the urgency of the response even though the blaze never left the property. The case also stands out for its apparent opportunism: investigators say the car was left unlocked, and the pair allegedly used that opening to break in before the situation escalated.

Jail records show both suspects were being held at the Monroe County Jail with no bond listed, and arraignment was set for June 16. In a county where commercial properties often sit close to homes and the Overseas Highway carries steady traffic through the Keys, the arrest underscored how quickly a petty break-in can turn into a public-safety call when fire is involved.