239-2001 LTC
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CITY OF MIAMI BEACH
Office of the City Manager
Letter to Commission No. <:>23 9' -~(f~
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To:
Mayor Neisen O. Kasdin and
Members of the City Commission
Date: October 26, 2001
Jorge M. Gonzalez \~
City Manager U 0
Subject: MIDDLE DISTRICT CRIME TRENDS AND APPREHENSION
From:
This Letter to the Commission is to provide you with an update on the status of the Middle District
Crime Trends.
Between the dates of June 25, 2001 and September 26, 2001, there were a series of nine driveway
robberies which occurred in the Middle District. The Patrol Division and Criminal Investigations
Division organized a Street Crimes Task Force directed at this crime trend. After an intensive
investigation with local, state and federal law enforcement authorities, a suspect was identified and
on October 22,2001, the suspect was taken into custody in Talladega, Alabama. The suspect was
charged with Strong Arm Robbery and Violation of Probation. Miami Beach Detectives are
following up on this case in the furtherance of additional charges. The suspect will be extradited to
Florida where he will stand trial, and regardless of the outcome, will face up to life in prison due to
his probation violation.
In addition, the Police Department's Crime Analyst has detected an increase in the amount of
residential burglaries that had taken place in the Middle Beach area. Further crime analysis
revealed that a total of 12 residential burglaries had occurred between October 8, 2001 and
October 24, 2001.
. The Police Department immediately initiated an action plan to create a pro-active task force
in an effort to arrest the suspect(s).
. An informational flyer (see attached) was prepared and hand delivered to Middle Beach
residents.
. This flyer included the specifics of the burglaries, crime prevention tips, and important police
department telephone numbers to call for additional important information.
. This information was also placed on the local cable television channel for Miami Beach
residents.
. A state-of-the-art telephone system was utilized by the Police Department to contact 2,575
Middle Beach residents, providing them with the burglary information and crime prevention
tips.
. A town meeting has been set for November 1, 2001 at 6:00 p.m. at the Nautilus Middle
School Auditorium. This meeting will allow residents to receive crime prevention tips and
information on the ongoing investigations. I welcome the attendance of the Commission
Members at this meeting.
Due to the efforts of the Police Department, a violent criminal has been incarcerated and the
Department is actively and aggressively pursing the perpetrators of the Middle Beach burglaries.
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DEDICATED To
CO~~ML:NITY S~R\iIC~
1100 W,A's\W'I:?TON AVENUE . MI!'-,MI BU,CH, FLORIDA 33139
COMMUNITY UPDATE
October 25, 2001
The Miami Beach Police Department would like to inform the Mid-Beach residents of a
recent increase in residential burglaries.
Although an arrest has been made and other investigations are ongoing, citizens should
be aware of this trend. To combat this trend the Police Department has assembled a
Task Force comprised of members from the Special Investigations Squad, Patrol
Officers, and Burglary Squad. The officers will in turn saturate the district in an attempt
to locate the suspect or suspects.
There have been fourteen burglaries in a two-week period:
. The majority occurred during the daytime hours
. One house was under construction, open access (no door or window)
. One burglary was an unlocked garage
. One burglary was an unlocked storage room
. One burglary occurred because the key was left in the front door
. One burglary occurred because the sliding glass door was left unlocked
. In seven burglaries a window was broken to gain entry
. In one attempted burglary and one burglary the door was pried open
Citizens should use good judgement by remembering to:
. Lock both front and rear doors
. Close and lock garage doors
. Utilize alarm if the resident does have one
. Report suspicious persons or vehicles
. Look out for their neighbors
If you see a suspicious person call 305-673-7900.
If you see a crime in progress call 9 11.
For a crime prevention surveyor information call 305-673-7933.
If you have any further questions, contact District Commander Capt. John DiCenso at
305-673-7776, ext. 5359, or Lt. Mark Bray at 305-673-7933.
A free flowing line of communication and information empowers us as a community to
make our neighborhood a safe place to live.
Si~Ce;r:.../)~
CJ4I ~ P'
Donald W. D ucca
Chief of Police