LTC 253-2004 Middle District Burglaries
CITY OF MIAMI BEACH
Office of the City Manager
Letter to Commission No. 253-2004
~
From:
Mayor David Dermer and
Members of the City commiS~ ~
Jorge M. Gonzalez ]cf/'()
City Manager
MIDDLE DISTRI / BURGLARIES
Date: September 24, 2004
To:
Subject:
This Letter to the City Commission is to provide information on the recent burglaries to
residences in the City's middle district and outline the police department's response plan.
There have been eleven residential burglaries in the area between Dade Boulevard and
83rd street from September 3rd through September 23rd. The Police Department is
addressing this trend through proactive measures including an increased uniform police
presence during each shift overlap period, crime suppression teams conducting
undercover surveillance details throughout the area, increased traffic enforcement, and a
detailed follow-up investigation of each of these crimes. District detectives and patrol
officers are also randomly checking construction sites for permits, proper licensing, and
completing criminal history checks on all employees on site.
Attached is a Middle District Advisory prepared by the Crime Prevention Unit which is being
sent to all the neighborhood homeowners associations.
JMG\DWD\tr
F:\POLI\ADMI\$CHI\2OO4\L TC MIddle Burglarles.doc
C) a
--i ,t-
oO (/)
r"'1 rn
-'" (')
,...., N
:::v -.l rn
:::<::
V> :Do 01<
::J1C
0 a m
""1
...., 0
n CD
f'T1
~6jjcE.
Dedicated To Community Service
Donald De Lucca
Chief of Police
t'/nternet) http..//ci'.m/am/-heach.R.us
Crime Prevention Unit I
Middle District Advisorv
(Update# Two) 09/23/04
The pu!pose of this bulletin is to alert residents of criminal activity in their neighborhood.
Th~re have been eleven resi~ential burglaries in the Fea between Dade Boulevard and
63 Street from September 3 through September 23D . The following is a breakdown of
these crimes, by neIghborhood.
Three Burglaries in the LaGorce/Pinetree Drive area:
. 09/08/04 5200 block LaGorce Drive, afternoon hours
. 09/21/04 6300 block Pinetree Drive, daytime hours.
. 09/21/04 5400 block Pinetree Drive, afternoon hours.
Four Burglaries in the North Bay Road! Alton Road Area:
. 09/13/04 5600 block North Bay Road, daytime hours.
. 09/03/04 2100 block of North Bay Road, nighttime hours.
. 09/05/04 5200 block of North Bay Road (Attempt).
. 09/22/04 2700 block of North Bay Road, afternoon hours.
Two Burglaries in the Lakeview Drive Area:
. 09/17/04 700 block of Lakeview Drive, daytime hours.
. 09/22/04800 block of Lake view Drive, afternoon hours.
One burglary in the Venetian Islands Area:
. 09/22/04 100 block of 1 sl Terrace, nighttime hours.
One burglary in the Sunset Islands Area:
. 09/23/04 2800 block of Lucerne Ave, daytime hours.
The Police Department is addressing this trend through proactive measures which include
an increased uniformed police presence, traffic enforcement, proactive undercover details
around the clock, and a detailed follow-up investigation of eacl1 of these crimes.
The following is a list of crime prevention tips that residents should follow to avoid
becoming victIms of crime:
. Set alarms when leaving homes, even if it is for a short period of time. DO NOT
by-pass any zones. DO NOT cancel police response when contacted by alarm
companies, specifically when not at home.
. Anal~sis has shown several burBlaries have occurred in homes. in which
bUn!: arv alarms have not been ac vated.
. If you hear a neighbor's alarm, contact the police and be aware of possible suspects
or vehicles in the area.
. Secure all windows and doors including those on the second floor.
. Secure all pet entrances at night and when not at home.
. Secure all exterior gate doors leading into your property with a lock.
. DO NOT leave driveway gates and garage doors open and unattended.
. DO NOT leave any items that could be used to access an upper floor window or
door lying around your property (e.g., ladders, buckets, crates, stacked bricks, etc.).
. Consi<;ler storing any jewelry of personal value that is not used regularly in a safety
depOSIt box or liome safe.
. For those residents with safes in their homes, have the safe anchored properly to
the .home's structure as opposed to a movable structure (i.e. furniture, shelvmg,
cabmets ).
NEW TECHNOLOGY: A cellular backup system is now being used with some alarm
companies. The cellular backup still allows for the monitoring company to be notified if
conventional phone lines are cut. This has been done in severaf of the listed burglaries.
Your District Detectives and Patrol Officers are randomly checking construction sites for
permits, proper licensing, and completing criminal history checks on all employees on site. It
would be immensely helpful for residents to hire only licensed contractors as we have had
problems in the past with unlicensed laborers.
For additional crime prevention tips or to schedule a home security survey, please contact
the Miami Beach PolIce Department at (305) 673-7813.