SOUTHWEST MIAMI-DADE, Fla. (WSVN) — A Miami-Dade Police officer awoke for work, Monday morning, to find an empty driveway.

According to officials, at around 8:30 a.m., the officer’s 2008 Ford Crown Victoria, which contained a helmet and bulletproof vest, was missing in the area of Southwest 276th Street and 167th Avenue. 

A neighbor told 7News she believes the theft happened around 5 a.m. Monday because her outdoor surveillance cameras caught the vehicle as it was driven away. 

Around 4:50 a.m., the home surveillance cameras caught a vehicle driving slowly to the front of the house. Within two minutes, a vehicle drives by again and appeared to turn off its lights. The video is difficult to see, but seconds later, a vehicle with its lights off leaves the area. 

The neighbor whose cameras may have caught the crime spoke to 7News. "It all happened within minutes. It’s a very narrow road. Nobody comes out here unless you live here, especially at that time in the morning," said neighbor Karen Hamilton, "so I think it was the person who took the car."  

Neighbors are worried about what this could mean for their community. "Definitely puts society at risk because they could come with a marked car and do some bad things with that," said one neighbor.

Another woman said this type of activity is unusual. "I think it’s very shocking that they’d take a police cruiser," said the resident. "Typically, it is very safe in this neighborhood … Kids are always playing in the street."

Police are urging community members to be on the look out for the marked, green and white Miami-Dade Police vehicle. The vehicle number is 1606A, with the plate TB236. "I think it’s very bold, and I think they wanted to get caught because who does this? They didn’t take a car that they could have taken. They took a cop car," Hamilton said. "They just wanted to, I don’t know, tell their friends."  

If you have any information on the stolen cruiser, 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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