MIAMI (WSVN) - Police are searching for a man who, they said, broke into and ransacked a car dealership in Miami, late Friday night.
Surveillance cameras captured a man breaking into Machado Auto Sales on Northwest 27th Avenue and Ninth Street.
According to Miami Police, the subject used a brick to break through a back door. The footage then shows the perpetrator rummaging through desks and cabinets in an office before heading outside to comb through several cars parked in the lot.
“The alarm company called us,” said Eileen Machado, one of the dealership’s owners. “We were sleeping, and we were a little bit startled, so we headed over here to meet up with the police officers.”
Machado and fellow business owner Ray Hernandez arrived at the dealership to find the damage left behind. “Luckily, they didn’t get away with much, just some damage to the property and a few items from the drawers and stuff,” said Hernandez. “Other than that, everything else was OK.”
Machado said the overnight break-in shattered her sense of security. “It was kind of frightening, and it was a little bit disrespectful,” said Eileen Machado. “You feel a little violated, like, this is a safe space. We come here to work hard.”
Now the owners are looking for ways to keep this from ever happening again. “We’re just going to spiff up the security here to make sure that he doesn’t come in,” said Machado. “I mean, you don’t want somebody to come in and possibly hurt anybody.”
If you have any information on this 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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