ST. LUCIE COUNTY, Fla (CBS12) — An off-duty St. Lucie County sheriff’s deputy helped capture a man investigators say was connected to eight vehicle burglaries and attempted burglaries in the Spanish Lakes One community.

Deputies began investigating Aug. 17 after receiving multiple calls about burglaries and attempted burglaries involving vehicles in the community, according to the St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office.

The following day, Detective Cpl. Anzalone was assigned to the investigation and worked with patrol deputies and crime analysts to identify 44-year-old Herman Ray Nettles of Fort Pierce as a suspect, the sheriff’s office said.

Information about Nettles was then distributed to agency personnel.

Two days later, on Aug. 20, Deputy Martinez-Delgado was off duty when she spotted Nettles traveling along U.S. 1 in southern Port St. Lucie, according to the sheriff’s office.

An off-duty St. Lucie County sheriff’s deputy helped capture a man investigators say was connected to eight vehicle burglaries and attempted burglaries in the Spanish Lakes One community. (SLCSO)

An off-duty St. Lucie County sheriff’s deputy helped capture a man investigators say was connected to eight vehicle burglaries and attempted burglaries in the Spanish Lakes One community. (SLCSO)

Martinez-Delgado called 911, and responding deputies detained Nettles. He was later taken to the sheriff’s Criminal Investigations Division for further investigation.

Investigators said they developed probable cause connecting Nettles to all eight reported incidents.

Nettles was booked into the St. Lucie County Jail on a charge of burglary of an unoccupied conveyance. The sheriff’s office said he will face a total of eight counts stemming from the investigation: three counts of burglary of an unoccupied conveyance and five counts of attempted burglary of an unoccupied conveyance.

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“Being a law enforcement officer doesn’t stop when the shift ends,” Sheriff Richard Del Toro said, crediting Martinez-Delgado for recognizing the suspect and quickly contacting authorities.

Del Toro also praised the deputies, detectives and crime analysts who worked to identify Nettles and build the case.