Police Impersonators Stage Home Invasion In Miramar
MIRAMAR (CBSMiami) – A Miramar homeowner who was severely beaten during a home invasion robbery Thursday morning is talking about the ordeal that left him bruised and stitched.
The crime took place in the 2000 block of SW 117th Avenue around 1:15 a.m. Thursday.
"I thought they were cops, and I didn't have anything to hide so I opened the door," said Rick Estrada. "They said it's police. We've got a search warrant," Estrada recalls.
Estrada said he had just finished watching the Heat game when he heard pounding on the front door of his home at Southwest, 117th Avenue.
When he looked out his peephole, he saw two men with SWAT team badges, bullet proof vests and guns.
Three men stormed in along with a woman who had earlier come to his door inquiring about an address.
"I had just left ten minutes before it happened, so I'm guessing someone was watching. It was planned," said his son Richard Estrada.
Rick Estrada said the assailants demanded money and started punching him in the face. At one point, one of the suspects pointed a gun to his head.
According to Estrada, they located a safe that contained several thousand dollars.
He managed to escape and ran out the front door.
"Was it a random act or was he targeted, that is still under investigation," said Miramar police spokeswoman Tania Rues.
Rues believes there is a lesson here for all homeowners.
"We always tell people, if you are not expecting the police, call 911 if you feel anything suspicious."
Rick Estrada now knows what to do if he's ever in the same situation.
"I should have called 911. It was the wrong decision."
The suspects are described as three Hispanic males and one Hispanic white woman with blue eyes and blond hair.
If you have any information, call Broward Crime Stoppers at 954-493-TIPS.
