Police have arrested a young man days after several people were caught on camera attempting to break into a South Miami home using boulders.
Surveillance video captured two subjects trying to enter a house through the garage in the area of Southwest 87th Street and 58th Avenue, early Saturday morning.
“This is violent stuff,” said South Miami Police Sgt. Fernando Bosch.
According to South Miami Police, the homeowners accidentally left their garage door open, giving the perpetrators easier access to the property.
The duo are seen on video using two boulders in an attempt to break down a hurricane-proof door.
“There’s a couple sleeping, husband and wife, and five children, including an infant, in that house,” said Bosch.
When the rocks didn’t work, the subjects grabbed a wood plank.
Cellphone video showed the damage to the door.
Investigators said five subjects from Broward County took part in the burglary.
“They come here at approximately 1 a.m., they start going through neighborhoods, checking doors — vehicle doors, as well as house doors — in order to steal high-end cars,” said Bosch.
South Miami Police detectives said they and other agencies have been investigating several cases of home break-ins and car thefts in South Florida.
“The thing is that these guys are coming down to Dade County, doing their dirty work down here, and we put a little dent,” said Bosch.
Police said they took 19-year-old Joshua Reed into custody on Thursday.
“We’re out there, and we’re going to do what we can to arrest these individuals and try to make sure that they stay in jail for as long as they possibly can,” said Bosch.
Investigators said Reed is linked to 14 different out of different cities, including Coral Gables, Pinecrest, Miami and South Miami. They tracked him moves because of an ankle monitor.
“Mr. Reed has a criminal past from Broward County for doing the same thing, and he was on pretrial release,” said Bosch.
In Saturday’s case, detectives said, one of the subjects managed to get in the house
Reed faces charges of burglary, grand theft and criminal mischief. The alarm went off, and they fled.
Surveillance video shows the perpetrators stealing the victims’ 2020 Mercedes-Benz S63.
“They wanted to get the Bentley that was parked next to the Mercedes-Benz,” said Bosch.
Police continue to search for the rest of the subjects, as they try to put a stop to this theft ring.
“I’m sure [Reed’s] associates are going to keep coming down, so hopefully, we’re going to be there for them, waiting for them and arrest them,” said Bosch.
If you have any information on this break-in or the other subjects’ whereabouts, call Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at 305-471-TIPS. Remember, you can always remain anonymous, and you may be eligible for a reward of up to $5,000.
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