A man in a sharp blazer may not have raised any eyebrows as he walked up and down Sunset Drive in South Miami early Saturday morning, but he made off with tens of thousands of dollars’ worth of goods, the owners of a boutique say.
"He walked up to the business on his cell phone, basically went up to the front door, came out two or three, four times out to the sidewalk, looked both ways, pretended that he was on the phone, or he could have been talking to somebody else," said Major Rene Landa with South Miami Police.
The crime happened just after 6:40 in the morning. The high-end boutique on Southwest 57th Avenue and Sunset Drive wasn't open – and it wouldn’t be opening that day. Police said the man somehow removed the lock on the door, and was in and out in about eight minutes’ time.
The business owners of Enjoy Boutique, which had its grand opening in late April, said they believe they lost about $5,000 in women's clothes and anywhere from 20 to 30 grand worth of jewelry.
Though there aren't any cameras inside of the store, a shopping bag ties the suspect to the scene, police said.
"This is the bag that he stole from inside, because when he first walked up, he didn't have that bag," said Major Landa, describing the surveillance video.
It's unclear whether the man got help, or worked alone.
The owners, who did not want to reveal their identity for fear of retaliation, said one of them might have forgotten to activate the alarm at closing time on Friday. They are certainly feeling the impact of the crime as the boutique was uninsured. In addition to the merchandise, they said the man also took an iPad that contains personal photos of their children and home.
Police are hoping the memorable way in which the man was dressed, his cross-body bag and blazer, could lead them to their guy.
They are asking anyone with information that can help to call Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at 305-471-TIPS.
More Local Stories:
- Suspect Wanted for Oakland Park Murder Apprehended: Authorities
- Authorities Identify Woman Found Dead in Lauderhill
- 5 Students Arrested for Selling Guns at School: Authorities
Photo Credit: NBC 6 South Florida