MIAMI (WSVN) - The owners of a South Florida business are reeling, one day after, they said, a burglar broke into their religious store and took off with a cage filled with pricey pigeons.
For the second time in less than a year, Mae and Nelson Hernandez, the owners of El Viejo Lazaro Botanica in Miami, find themselves cleaning up after a crook.
“People are crazy. People know I have security cameras,” said Nelson. “People know I put the wires. More security, and these people don’t care.”
But the barbed wire and security cameras did not deter the subject from breaking into the business, located at 5800 W. Flagler St., Friday night.
Just a few hours after the shop had closed up for the night, the footage shows the perpetrator, wearing a bucket over his head and a trash bag over his shoulders, as he jumped over the fence and made his way inside.
“I don’t know what’s going here in Miami,” said Mae. “People don’t have respect for anything.”
Minutes later, the thief is seen walking off with a cage filled with pigeons that, the owners said, are worth thousands of dollars.
“Because now, these little pigeons, he breaks the eggs and everything. It’s animal abuse,” said Nelson. “The way he took the pigeons was very rough.”
The subject’s exit was even harder. He is seen scaling the ladder and then tumbling over the fence and falling onto the ground.
The religious store had beefed up security after being burglarized in May. Police arrested two people in connection to the incident, but the owners haven’t recovered what was stolen.
The owners said the burglary is especially painful because it took place right before the holidays.
If you have any information on either of these burglaries, call Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at 305-471-TIPS. Remember, you can always remain anonymous, and you may be eligible for a $1,000 reward.
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