SOUTHWEST MIAMI-DADE, FLA. (WSVN) - Miami-Dade Police are searching for a group of thieves in connection to at least eight cases of tire thefts in a Southwest Miami-Dade neighborhood.
Residents in the area woke up to the thefts, Tuesday morning, and found several vehicles left on bricks with the rims and tires removed.
“At 7 a.m., we walk our dog and find the car in this condition,” said Elva Funes, one of the victims of the theft.
According to multiple neighbors and home surveillance footage, they were all hit one after the other from around 1 a.m. to 5 a.m.
“They got in, they got out in four minutes and took it all,” said Sebastian Quinteros, one of the victims of the theft.
A home surveillance camera captured two vehicles rolling up to the home of one unsuspecting victim.
On the video, at least four people appear to exit the vehicles before they get to work on the victim’s car. They then flee the scene with the tires and rims in the trunk of the getaway vehicle.
“They took all four. They didn’t really care much,” said Quinteros.
Residents told 7News the neighborhood has security guards patrolling the area throughout the night.
“What happened to the security people that we pay 24 hours a day to monitor this place and ride around?” said Funes. “They would have knocked on our door when they see the car in blocks.”
A similar theft took place at an apartment complex along 178th Street and 59th Avenue in Northwest Miami-Dade, Tuesday.
“Honestly, we don’t feel safe at all. I can say I’ve even left the front door of my house open, but now I don’t. I would let my son go out and now I don’t,” said victim Jennifer Paredes “It’s not just me. My neighbors are very bothered because this keeps happening.”
Surveillance footage shows what appears to be another theft at the same apartment complex, May 29.
The footage shows a red minivan pulling up to a vehicle at the apartment complex. In the video, a man is seen exiting the vehicle, walking behind the minivan and then driving off minutes later with a victim’s rims and tires.
For most residents, it’ll take several days to get replacement tires. Some are looking at an insurance deductible of around $1,000.
“I can’t go to work,” said Quinteros. “I work an hour and a half away, so I’m not gonna take an Uber that far.”
Above all, residents now feel their sense of security has been lost.
“It makes you feel a little upset, unsafe,” said Quinteros.
“I want to catch these guys,” added Funes.
If you have any information on these thefts, 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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