CBS4 Exclusive: Victim Releases Surveillance Tape After Being Robbed Twice In 4 Days
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MIAMI (CBSMiami) – A Miami man says he feels "frustrated" and "violated" after being robbed twice in four days.
The victim named Jack, who did not want to show all of his face or release his last name, told CBS4's Peter D'Oench in an exclusive interview that he was robbed at gunpoint on election night, and then, just four days later, his home in the Buena Vista east neighborhood of Miami was ransacked.
Jack said that burglary was captured on surveillance tape by the 10 security cameras at his home.
Jack said one of the men who robbed him on Tuesday night was seen on camera burglarizing his home near NE 46th St. and 2nd Ave. between 5 a.m. and 6:15 a.m. Saturday while he was away for the weekend.
"This guy robbed me the first night," Jack said as he showed CBS4 the surveillance tape.
CBS4 has learned that police in at least one other city, including Miami Shores, want to see if these same burglars have struck in their jurisdictions.
Jack said he was first victimized at 6:30 p.m. last Tuesday night when he arrived home in his Porsche.
"I grabbed a backpack from my back seat and went to put the key in my front door and they jumped out from a hedge behind me and ran up and said, 'Yo,' and then put a gun my face," said Jack. "I was shocked. They said, 'Give me everything you have.' I threw down my wallet and my phone.
"They told me to give them my watch and I refused. They threatened me and said they were going to kill me. They said we can do this the hard way or the easy way. So I turned sideways because I thought they were going to shoot me and I didn't want them to shoot me in the chest.
"So I threw down my car keys and the shorter one ran to the car and started it while the bigger man kept a gun on me. Then they ran to the car and sped off. I couldn't understand why they would do this. I could tell they were scared and nervous. That night was terrifying for me.
"They took my car, my wallet, my ID, credit cards, cash, laptop and cellphone," he said. "When they recovered my Porsche, the whole front bumper was off."
Jack said he lost thousands, if not tens of thousands, of dollars worth of items.
He also said the burglars may have used his credit cards at a nearby Foot Locker store and at the Dadeland Mall.
He said the burglars broke into his home through a bedroom impact window.
"They just opened up every single drawer looking for jewelry and cash," he said. "They had taken down two of the TVs but they were too big for them to carry them so they left them at the front door. They took my father's watch and my father's gold wedding band. My father passed away about 20 years ago so they had sentimental value for me and they took two other watches from me.
"I assume that's why they come back, because I didn't give them a watch on Tuesday night.
"It's really unnerving for a gang of people to know so much about you, to have your credit card and your ID and your business checks. To know what you are writing and to who, and to have been in your car for hours and you know nothing about them. I feel frustrated and violated.
"I would just say to people to be careful. We all take our freedom and safety for granted. This can happen to anyone. You need to be vigilant and keep your eyes out and help each other. We can't just rely on the police to solve this, they are inundated," he said.
Jack said he has lived in his home for five years and nothing like this has ever happened before to him.
He is now stepping up security, adding even more cameras and lights.
He hopes anyone with information about this case will call Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at (305) 471-TIPS (8477).