WEST MIAMI-DADE, FLA. (WSVN) - Authorities have arrested a man in connection to a mail theft in July at an apartmentr complex in West Miami-Dade that was caught on camera.
Surveillance video from the Parkside of Fontainebleau captured the bandit, identified as 38-year-old David Alexander Armeda, who residents said they had been dealing for three months.
Neighbors hired Henry Lorié to install cameras.
“The insecurity of having somebody come up to their property and violating their privacy,” said Lorié.
The July 31 footage showed the suspect riding a bike through the parking lot early in the morning.
He stopped and began prying into the complex’s mailbox, ripping the cover open, grabbing the envelopes inside one by one, then dumping them into a bag.
At one point, he even looked over his shoulder.
“I can’t believe that a person could ignore, if you look here, ignore two cameras and just stand here and look at the cameras,” Lorié said. “It’s incredible, you know, how gutsy the guy is.”
According to the arrest report, a mail theft inspector from the United States Postal Service estimated the total damage to the mailbox to be around $28,125.
Police said the suspect later moved on to the next building to do the same thing before leaving.
Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office detectives said Armeda was taken into custody at a Macy’s store off North Kendall Drive on Wednesday.
According to the arrest report, Armeda was unable to give investigators a statement because he was under the effects of methamphetamine at the time.
Armeda sat before Miami-Dade Circuit Court Judge Mindy S. Glazer on Thursday. He faced multiple charges, including criminal mischief and removing mail from a depo or carrier.
“Pulling open a mailbox cover and removing multiple mail items, pieces of mail, then leaves the building,” said Glazer. “Should’ve been charged with burglary, too.”
Armeda reportedly had several stolen credit cards on him as well at the time of his arrest.
“He’s in possession of 10 credit, debit cards, and two Florida driver’s licenses,” said Glazer. “None of them bear his name.”
In court, the judge ordered Armeda to stay away from the West Miami-Dade condo complex.
“They’re relieved, they feel safer,” Lorié said of residents. “They were thankful. They thanked me for the work my company did.”
Armeda’s bond is set at over $20,000, and he also has a hold.
Copyright 2026 Sunbeam Television Corp. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.