MIAMI (WSVN) - Miami-Dade Police are questioning one woman they believe burglarized a religious store, Monday.
According to officials, a man and woman broke into the store and stole 50 white doves, along with thousands of dollars worth of tools.
The owners of the store said the thieves managed to open a locked gate and walk over to a storage area where the expensive birds and tools were located.
Surveillance cameras caught the burglary in action as the duo backed the car inside the premises. A man can be seen going inside the gate while a woman kept watched. Then, the man takes $10,000 worth of tools and 50 white doves and loads them right into the trunk of the car. “Open all the cabinets. They take everything from here,” said Mae Hevia, who’s shop was burglarized. “All the walls were full of tools.”
Hevia said the tools were specialized equipment needed to build religious artifacts. “Need the specific tools for this work, ” she said. “It’s not easy, it’s hard to do it.”
The Botanica store along West Flagler Street in Miami was burglarized around 5 p.m. on Sunday.
One owner realized the birds he’s been collecting for years were also stolen. “Very special, because I try to collect them for 20 years,” said store owner Nelson Hernandez. “Little by little.”
Hevia hopes the store’s surveillance camera could catch the duo. “I just say please, if somebody see that video and recognize the people, help us,” she said.
The owners said the business is how they get by, and without the equipment, it’ll be hard to service the community. “This is the only way we have to provide food for our daughter,” Hevia said. “We try to improve, we try to continue, we are trying to grow. We are trying to change our lives and somebody come and take everything from us.”
The store owners told 7News that they are investing in new surveillance cameras because of this incident.
Police are still searching for the second suspected burglar.
If you have any information on this robbery, 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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