It took more than just one whack with a hammer for thieves to break into a Coral Gables electronics store.
There was some kicking, more hammering at the bottom of the door – and then the suspects broke through, peeling back the glass and crawling inside, just-released surveillance video shows.
The suspects scurried through the Verizon Wireless store at 2201 Ponce de Leon Blvd. last Friday, Jan. 18 at about 5 a.m., snatching up two tablets and a cell phone worth about $1,600, Coral Gables Police said.
Some local residents like Michelle Malca found it unusual that such a crime would occur in fancy downtown Coral Gables.
“I live 10 minutes from here in the Dadeland area, and I just think it’s shocking that this is happening in such a good area around here,” she said.
“There’s pros out there, there are a lot of people that put their efforts into being better criminals than being workers, so it doesn't surprise me at all,” Eddie Lopez said. “It could happen anywhere at anytime at anyplace.”
The crime took just one minute, before the suspects left the same way they entered, then fled in two pickup trucks, police said.
The only witness, a taxi cab driver, told police he heard a loud bang and then saw a black Ford pickup truck and a black Dodge pickup drive off, police said.
Investigators ask anyone who recognizes the suspects or who has information on the incident to call Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at 305-471-TIPS.
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Photo Credit: NBC 6 South Florida