MIAMI (WSVN) - A man was caught on camera attempting to rob an 89-year-old man before throwing garbage bags at him in Miami.
Maintenance worker Geraldo Falcon was at work, mopping the floor of a parking garage located in the area of Southwest Third Street and 12th Avenue at approximately 5:50 a.m., Thursday.
Surveillance cameras captured the moment a man sneaked into the garage through an open iron gate while Falcon briefly stepped into a closet.
“A big guy, he came and said, ‘Dámelo todo. Give me all,” said Fernando Gonzalez, a friend and coworker of the victim.
When Falcon walked back into the room, the strong-armed robber approached him and demanded his watch.
“This suspect comes in through the gate and tells him to give him his watch,” said Miami Police Officer Michael Vega.
Falcon reached into his pocket and produced a pocket knife instead.
“Instead of complying and giving him the watch,” said Vega, “he basically goes into his pocket, pulls out a pocket knife and tells him, ‘Get back! Get back!'”
After a standoff between the two, the attempted robber went towards a bin filled with garbage bags and began throwing the filled bags at Falcon before hurling the bin at him.
“The elderly man keeps on pointing the knife at him and telling him to go away,” said Vega.
The attempted robber then fled the scene through the open gate.
Falcon was able to lock the gate before the attempted robber returned.
“The suspect comes back with a bag over his right hand, pretending that he has a gun,” said Vega, “and still demanding that the victim give his watch. The victim did not comply, and then the suspect fled.”
The two could be seen exchanging words before the subject left the scene for a second time.
Pedro Falcon, the victim’s nephew, said he had no idea his uncle went toe-to-toe with the crook.
“He isn’t a violent person, but when someone provokes you,” he said through a translator, “then you may react in that way in order to defend yourself and to prevent them from harming you.”
The victim’s family couldn’t believe it when they saw the footage.
“He is an older man, and I am a little surprised that he took on someone that was trying to harm him,” said relative Emilia Falcon through a translator. “Falcon is a passive person, an older man, very tranquil, but his temperament can be full of energy.”
Gonzalez said the 89-year-old is a tough man.
“He said that he could not get scared because if he were scared, he would be robbed,” said Gonzalez. “He’s a tiny guy but very brave.”
Falcon said there was no way he was going to show any hint of fear during the attack but said he is now scared because the robber hasn’t been caught yet.
Police are asking for the public’s help in identifying the attempted robber described as standing approximately 6 feet tall with a slim build and full trimmed beard.
He was last seen wearing a gray hat, light gray tank top, gray shorts and orange sneakers with a white trim.
Vega does not recommend pulling a knife during a robbery attempt but still commends the victim for his decisive defense.
“Here we have an 89-year-old elderly male that is still working at that age, and we have this robber that comes to try to take this hardworking man’s watch,” said Vega. “We don’t suggest this to the public. If somebody comes and tries to rob you, try to be compliant, and that way your life is not lost in this. In this case, it turned out well.”
If you have any information on this attempted 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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