Three armed men broke into a South Florida home, held five residents captive and took off with an undisclosed amount of cash after tying up one of the victims, all while dressed in law enforcement jackets and hats, investigators said.
Police said the break-in took place Saturday around 1:30 p.m. at the victims’ residence, which is located on West 36th Avenue and 74th Place in Hialeah. According to authorities, the suspects broke into the home through a back entrance.
“Three males dressed as FBI agents or cops, wearing gray jackets, police hats, forced their way into the house at gunpoint,” said Hialeah Police Detective Carl Zogby. “[The suspects] hold them captive for several minutes. They ransacked the house.”
Authorities said there were five adults inside the residence who were taken by surprise. “They tie up one of the victims inside the house,” Zogby said. “It’s unknown what the reason was. They keep ransacking the house. Apparently they find an undisclosed amount of money inside a small safe in the house, grab that, run out.”
No one inside the house was hurt. Nearby resident Aaron Ojeda said he has never heard of any home invasions in this neighborhood prior to this incident. “This is a big deal, seeing cops like this,” he said. “It’s really something out of the ordinary.”
Police said these robbers may have been watching home. “[We] don’t know at this moment why they would be targeted, but a large percentage of these cases are not random, and they are targeted because somebody believes that you have cash in the house,” Zogby said.
Investigators said the suspects fled the scene in a white H2 Hummer.
If you have any information on this armed robbery, call Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at 305-471-TIPS. Remember, you can always remain anonymous, and you may be eligible for a reward.