Beach Cops Bust Suspected "Barefoot Burglar"
Follow CBSMIAMI.COM: Facebook | Twitter
MIAMI (CBSMiami) - A man who Miami Beach police have dubbed the "Barefoot Burglar" is behind bars after he reportedly broke in to a couple's car and home.
Around 6:30 a.m. Thursday, Miami Beach officers were sent to a home at 4464 Prairie Avenue to check out reports of a burglary.
The homeowner said the intruder broke in through a family room window. He said he was alseep with his wife when something woke him and he saw the intruder standing over him.
He said the man was dressed in a red hoodie, shorts and no shoes. The shoes were eventually located on the couch by the family room window where he entered the home.
The homeowner said when he began yelling, the barefoot burglar took off. At first he tried to escape through the front door but couldn't because it was locked. He then ran to the family room window, where he came in, and left. The homeowner said he gave chase but eventually lost him.
A check of the house found the homeowner's credit cards missing along with his wife's purse, wallet and cell phone.
A description of the intruder was put out over the police radio and person matching it was spotted at 48th and Pine Tree Drive. The man was identified as 19-year old John Cairo. As police approached him, Cairo through a wallet onto a nearby driveway.
Police questioned Cairo and then homeowner positively identified him as the man he had chased from his home. the wallet he had thrown onto the driveway belonged to the homeowner's owner's wife.
A search of the area turned up a black back pack and the homeowner's credit cards on the patio by the family room window. The wallet Cairo had thrown onto the driveway belonged to the homeowner's owner's wife. Her purse was also recovered.
Police say Cairo has an extensive criminal record stemming from previous similar burglaries. They nicknamed him the "Barefoot Burglar" because he tends to remove his shoes once he is inside the home. His most recent arrest was two days ago on drug charges.