NORTHWEST MIAMI-DADE, FLA. (WSVN) – It’s been a recurring problem in homes and businesses across Miami all summer: ATV-riding thieves jumping from fence to fence have been robbing people’s property, including several times this month.
Residents of Northwest South River Drive and elsewhere are fed up with gangs of crooks who repeatedly raid businesses in the area.
“Several times, in all the other marinas, I have been hit more than once,” said Captain Alexis Perez of Pro Blue Marine. “It’s hurting our business.”
A local resident and affected business owner, Felix Mari, said the thieves were professionals.
“That’s all they do at night. They know exactly what to do and how to do it, and it only takes seconds,” he said. “They have a quad bike and they’re off. They just drive from marina to marina.”
“On the ATVs?” said 7News reporter Sheldon Fox.
“On the ATV,” said Mari.
One of the places where masked thieves recently caused trouble was the Miami International Marina.
In videos provided exclusively to 7News, the thieves can be seen jumping over the barbed wire fence and trying to make off with expensive loot.
“He’s climbing right there. Do you see him climbing?” Mari said, pointing to the video.
The crooks broke into Mari’s property and his clients’ boats.
Mari said the thieves took a GPS from the boat.
“Here is the GPS they stole and you can see how they cut the cables,” Mari said.
It is the same type of theft that occurs in all kinds of marinas. The robbery is said to have taken place overnight.
The thieves struck just last Thursday.
“We can’t see his face. He’s wearing a mask,” Mari said.
Mari and other victims said that despite repeated calls to the police, the crooks kept coming back.
“What are these guys up to? What do they want?” Fox said.
“Exhibitions,” said Mari.
Business owners said the thieves were after a Garmin navigation device that helps boaters navigate, which is worth $5,000 on the market.
Not far from the marina, Vincent Sedeno of Boat Cradles Unlimited says he is tired of his shipyard being a magnet for bandits who steal things and damage boats.
“Yeah, whatever is easiest to grab,” Sedeno said.
Sedeno explained how the thieves stole the tools.
“Climb on the boat. Disconnect the wiring. Pull it out and they just cut the cable. Pull it out of the dashboard of the boat and take it with them,” he said.
In one incident, Pro Blue Marine employees attempted to pursue the burglars.
“I’m calling the police. I’m calling the police,” shouted an employee.
“Go, go, go, go, go!” shouted the thieves as they sped off into the night on their quads, uncaught and unaccountable.
One of the burglars caught on camera does not appear to need a vehicle, as he usually commits his crimes on foot.
Although he has already been arrested, he returns to the same area seen on the surveillance video.
Another major concern for victims and residents of the area is what might happen if they encounter uninvited visitors.
“That’s the danger we want to prevent. When you meet one of these people, you don’t know if they have a weapon,” Mari said.
Miami-Dade Police are offering an $8,000 reward to anyone with information that can lead to the capture of the thieves.
If you have any information about this crime, call Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at 305-471-TIPS. Remember, you can always remain anonymous and may be eligible for a reward of up to $5,000.
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