Caught On Video: Man Accused Of Stealing Guns, Cash, Credit Cards From Home Of Woman With Dementia
MIAMI (CBSMiami) - City of Miami Police detectives need help identifying a man accused of entering the home of a 94-year-old woman, who suffers from dementia, and stealing several guns, cash and credit cards.
"We are concerned that there are 3 guns out there," said Miami Police spokesman, Officer Mike Vega.
"We don't want them to get into the hands of somebody who is going to commit another crime or possibly kill someone. These guns are in the hands of someone we don't know and they can be used for another crime. They can be used against us."
The homeowner who is the son of the elderly woman told CBS News Miami's Peter D'Oench that the suspect stole a black, Glock 26 handgun along with a Glock 19 handgun and a Glock 43X handgun that is black and silver.
Homeowner Manuel Fresnedo showed CBS News Miami a photo of his Glock 26 that was stolen.
Fresnedo said, "This was a total invasion of privacy. He took advantage of my 94-year-old mother who was outside on her porch getting fresh air. He took advantage of her and my home -- that is everyone's safe haven."
"He came into our safe haven and he is a threat to the community. He knew what he was doing and he definitely has done this before. He was wearing a vest like he was an FPL worker and he had a hat on. He told my mother he was a relative or a cousin and again she has dementia and she is 94 and she let him come inside the house."
It happened on January 31 around 1:55 p.m. at a home in the 200 block of SW 38 Court.
Police said the homeowner was at work and his mother was home alone.
The woman, police say, was in the front porch when she was approached by the suspect who asked, in Spanish, if he could use the bathroom.
She allowed the suspect to enter the house thinking it was a family member. After the suspect used the bathroom, he went inside the victim's bedroom and took several items from the nightstand and three firearms.
Then, he calmly walked out of the house and got into a white Ford utility work truck parked nearby.
When the victim got home, he noticed three of his guns were stolen. He also noticed several of his credit cards were also missing. He then reviewed surveillance footage which captured the suspect entering and exiting the residence.
Based on surveillance footage, the suspect arrived and left in an older model white Ford F-350 utility truck.
Fresnedo said, "It is an older F-350 that has a crew cab and a platform in back and a black tow hitch."
"This man took my 3 guns and 16 credit cards and $800 in cash and jewelry," said Fresnedo. "We need to see him captured. It would mean a criminal off the street and 3 weapons off the street and other elderly people will no be taken advantage of."
The suspect is a white Hispanic male, 40 to 50 years old, approximately 200 lbs., wearing aqua-colored facial covering, a white ball cap, a construction vest, and tan long shorts.
Vega called this a "crime of opportunity" and said the thief seemed to know when the victim would be home alone. He says it is not likely that he is a utility worker. It is not known if he has done this before.
Anyone with information is urged to contact the Miami Police at (305) 603-6030. Those with information that wish to remain anonymous can contact Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at (305) 471- TIPS (4877), visit www.crimestoppersmiami.com and select "Give a Tip" or Send a text message to 274637. Enter CSMD followed by the tip information and press send.
