Coral Gables Neighborhood On Alert After Home Invasion
CORAL GABLES (CBSMiami) - A Coral Gables neighborhood is on high alert after what police are calling a brazen home invasion.
The thief forced a woman into her home, demanding valuables and then got away, police said.
Officers went door to door in the neighborhood near Navarre Avenue and Cortez Street letting residents know what happened Monday night in the 800 block of Navarre Avenue.
Police said the woman was standing in her front yard when a man in his early 20s on a bicycle passed her house several times.
Before she knew it, that man was forcing her inside her home, police said.
"Forcing them into a house is pretty rare. Especially in the City of Coral Gables," said Assistant Police Chief Michael Miller. "We almost never see that happen."
Once inside the home, police said the man demanded valuables and threatened the woman.
He didn't harm her, but investigators said he made-off with about $2,000 and some jewelry.
"You wouldn't think it's happening in Coral Gables to begin with," said Leo Baquero, a Coral Gables resident.
Residents were alarmed after hearing what happened, many saying they feel like their neighborhood is immune from crime.
"We walk around the neighborhood freely all the time," said Genevieve Orr. "It makes me really kind do nervous.
Police are asking people to try and be vigilant.
"If the residents could help us by locking your doors at night, taking your valuables out of your cars, that would be extremely helpful," said Miller.
Police said the intruder in Monday's home invasion is a Hispanic man between the ages of 18 and 21. He was wearing a red shirt with stripes and blue jeans. He was carrying a black book bag with many zippers and was riding a bike. Police said they will release a composite sketch based on the victim's description and surveillance video from the neighborhood Tuesday.
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