MIAMI SHORES, FLA. (WSVN) - One man thought he and his family were safe in their upscale neighborhood until an intruder made his way inside their home.
That homeowner got the scare of his life when an armed man entered his house and demanded jewelry and cash. His wife and children were inside at the time of the robbery.
“This was pretty brazen. We’re talking about 8 o’clock at night, people still outside enjoying the night,” said Miami Shores Police Chief Kevin Lystad. “For us, there is no other case at this time that is more important than this. This is the most important case. Every resource, every bit of manpower that we have, detectives are working around the clock. We are working here until 5, 6 o’clock this morning and started right back again at 7 o’clock this morning.”
The robber was armed with a gun and forced the homeowner out of his house and into his car. He then instructed the victim to drive to a nearby bank to withdraw cash before taking the victim’s car.
“We’re scouring the area, from the way we think he came into the city, to the way we know he left with the victim’s vehicle, to get any surveillance that’s out there and review it,” Lystad said. “We will not stop until this subject is caught and apprehended.”
A concerned resident who lives in the area is now on guard in case something like this happens again. “It is a little scary when you feel like you definitely need to lock your doors and your windows,” said resident Rebecca Keren, “somebody might come in at night.”
Officials are confident that they will find the suspect in this case. “We have a really good track record of catching these guys, and we will catch him,” Lystad said.
Lystad wanted to ensure the Miami Shores community that this is an isolated incident. “These types of crimes, this one in particular, are very rare for Miami Shores,” he said.
Police are also urging residents in the area to look at their surveillance footage in hopes of cracking the case. Officials believe the robber was riding a bicycle beforehand.
Miami Shores PD said they have recovered the victim’s stolen vehicle, a Lexus, as well as the crook’s bicycle.
If you have any information on this crime, 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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