Smash & Grab Thieves Target Aventura HHgregg Store
MIAMI (CBSMiami) – For the second time in a little more than a week, smash and grab thieves have targeted a South Florida hhgregg electronics store.
When Aventura police arrived at the store in the 19000 block of Biscayne Boulevard just after 5 a.m. in response to a burglar alarm, they found the front glass doors had been ripped from their frames and the inside security barrier was badly damaged.
The crooks covered their faces before they burst into the store.
"They're very organized people. They come to the front door, they hit it very quickly, they have all black on, they don't care about the cameras," said Major Skip Washa of the Aventura Police Department .
The surveillance cameras captured images of six thieves, who worked together to steal high-end cameras and head sets.
"They target specific areas," said Maj. Washa. "That's why they go specifically to that department and bypass everything else."
Police said this burglary played out just like the one at the hhgregg in Hialeah on August 15th.
The crooks use vehicles, in this case two cars, to get inside.
"They broke the front door then they pulled the chain fence up. It's the same MO that happened in the Hialeah case and again it goes back to they've been hitting all over the state," said Washa.
Surveillance video of the Hialeah burglary showed five crooks stealing cell phones and computers.
Customer Alex Olander was frustrated that he wasn't able to do his early morning business at hhgregg.
"I'm frustrated because I came here and I cannot go for whatever reason happened," said Olander.
What's happening, said police, is an organized crime ring that's targeting business not only in South Florida, but across the state and even nationwide.
hhgregg issued a statement after the most recent crime that read:
"hhgregg is cooperating with the police department on their investigation of this incident. Our first priority is the safety and security of our employees, so we are pleased to report that no one was at the location during the incident and there were no injuries. We will be open for business today."
