SOUTHWEST MIAMI-DADE, FLA. (WSVN) - A prized horse has been stolen from a South Florida ranch, leaving the animal’s owner devastated.
Raul Ramos said thieves broke into his ranch in Southwest Miami-Dade, off Southwest 207th Avenue and 219th Street, and stole his horse, named Chicho.
“They cut it here, and they just put it here,” he said while showing 7News cameras what the thieves did to his fence. “I’m a little bit of everything. I’m mad. I’m upset. I’m sorry for the horse because we do get attached to animals.”
Ramos received a call from the man who feeds his horse at around 5:45 a.m., Tuesday, saying that the horse was missing.
“When he went to feed him, he saw that the gate was open and all the rest of the horse were quiet, so something went on,” Ramos said. “He saw that the fence had been cut. Apparently, the horse was taken from my place, through the alley, through my neighbor’s place into the street.”
Upon hearing of the missing horse, Ramos’ neighbors began sharing the news, hoping to track down the person behind the theft.
“My neighbors have been great,” he said. “They have been cooperating, calling everybody, putting pictures all over the place.”
About two miles away from Ramos’ home, Silvia Gomez-Silva’s surveillance camera captured video of a dark-colored vehicle hauling the horse.
“There’s no reason why you need to drag a horse,” Gomez-Silva said. “Anybody that is a horse owner will not take their horse in that condition.”
Ramos has contacted authorities, and he hopes someone with information on his horse’s whereabouts steps forward.
“We’re praying that the horse is still alive,” neighbor Marcia, who did not provide her last name, said. “That’s number one, and number two is that people know that they drive a black truck. We are on them. We are going to continue to be community vigilant out here. If they’re smart and they have this horse, just let him go.”
He added that he is not sure why a person would take the horse.
“I don’t know. Apparently, there’s many, many reasons,” Ramos said. “The main reason — I don’t know if it’s the reason for mine — is that they use it to sell the meat. It’s a very sad situation that we have.”
If you have any information on this theft, 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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