MIAMI BEACH, FLA. (WSVN) - A jeweler is reeling days after a thief preyed on his car while he prayed at temple in Miami Beach, taking off with tens of thousands of dollars in cash and luxury watches.
Ziv Tamir said he was returning to his car in the parking lot of Hebrew Academy along Pine Tree Drive and 24th Street on Tuesday evening when he realized something was wrong.
“I notice something weird. I see tons of glass,” he said.
The luxury watch dealer said he had parked in the full lot and had gone in to pray. The problem was that he’d left a bag filled with $10,000 in cash and fancy timepieces worth about $40,000 inside his sedan.
“Someone smashed my window,” he said.
A luxury watch dealer thinks he was followed and targeted when high-end watches and cash totaling $50K were stolen from his car as he prayed at a #MiamiBeach synagogue. @MiamiBeachPD @wsvn #Exclusive pic.twitter.com/zu5Y8xdNtj
— Sheldon Fox-7 News (@fox_sheldon) May 24, 2019
In all, Tamir said, the person responsible for this smash and grab took off with $50,000 in cash and watches.
7News cameras captured the victim as he had his window glass replaced on Thursday.
This guy says $50,000 in watches, jewels and cash were stolen from his car in a smash and grab burglary as he prayed at his synagogue in #MiamiBeach. He’s a watch dealer who thinks he was followed. @MiamiBeachPD investigating. @wsvn #Exclusive pic.twitter.com/4bpY4pfrgC
— Sheldon Fox-7 News (@fox_sheldon) May 24, 2019
Tamir said he suspects he was tailed on Tuesday from the DuPont Building in downtown Miami.
The victim said he only went in to pray for about 20 minutes when he realized he’d forgotten to take his bag.
Miami Beach Police said there is surveillance video of the burglary and are investigating.
Tamir, who is also an ordained rabbi, admitted he dropped the ball and should have known better than to leave $10,000 in cash and ritzy jewels in his front seat.
It might have been a dumb move, but Tamir is no dummy. He said he got a scholarship to the University of Miami Law School and is a card-carrying member of Mensa.
“You’ve got to be a good problem solver. My momma didn’t raise no fool, but I made a stupid mistake,” he said.
If you have any information on this car burglary, 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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