Smash & Grab Burglars Target Miami Lakes T-Mobile Store
MIAMI LAKES (CBSMiami) – Three men wearing hooded sweatshirts ran a Chevrolet Impala into a T-Mobile store in Miami Lakes before burglarizing the store in less than 70 seconds.
"Crazy, really crazy," said T-Mobile customer David Najar.
The manager of the store told CBS4's Gaby Fleischman the smash and grab took place around 2 a.m. Friday. The manager said the three burglars managed to steal several phones and tablets that were on display in the store on Northwest 154th Street and 77th Court.
Police said it only took the crooks one minute and ten seconds to get in, pull tablets and phones from the display table, and get out.
Store workers are still trying to assess exactly how much of the inventory the thieves got away with Friday.
The Impala, according to police on the scene, was stolen from Miami gardens and had a Florida license tag 619 TAE. Multiple police departments are combining their efforts to see if a recent wave of T-Mobile smash and grabs in the area are related.
A repairman at the store early Friday morning told CBS4 that he has been called out to several T-Mobile stores damaged by smash and grab burglaries since December.
"Since December, this will be the sixth store that they have taken a vehicle and drove through the front of the store to get in, and wiped them out," said Gerard Fusco with Miller Glass and Glazing. "It's absolutely incredible.. they are in and out within minutes"
Police are asking anyone with information, or anyone who sees a grey 2011 Chevy Impala with back end damage and the correct tag number to call Miami-Dade Crimestoppers at 305-471-TIPS.