Resolution 2025-33864 RESOLUTION NO. 2025-33864
A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE
CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, DIRECTING THE CITY
ADMINISTRATION TO HAVE THE MIAMI BEACH POLICE
DEPARTMENT RENEW AND STRENGTHEN ITS HIGHLY
SUCCESSFUL PROACTIVE UNDERCOVER OPERATION, PURSUANT
TO RESOLUTION NO. 2024-33338, BY USING "BAIT" BICYCLES AND
ELECTRIC SCOOTERS, ALONG WITH ANY ADDITIONAL
INVESTIGATIVE MEANS, IN ORDER TO COMBAT BICYCLE AND
SCOOTER THEFTS IN THE CITY; AND FURTHER, DIRECTING THE
ADMINISTRATION TO REPORT ITS RESULTS, VIA LETTER TO
COMMISSION, AT THE END OF THE OPERATION.
WHEREAS, bicycle and electric scooter theft have been an endemic problem in
the City of Miami Beach ("City"), affecting a large number of residents and visitors alike;
and
WHEREAS, many Miami Beach residents and visitors who own bicycles or
scooters have experienced theft at least once, even after employing modern locks and
other protective measures; and
WHEREAS, bicycle and scooter thieves have become increasingly sophisticated
and brazen in their techniques to overcome theft deterrent methods, posing a significant
challenge to bike and scooter owners; and
WHEREAS, there was a suspicion that a number of stolen bicycles and scooters
were being funneled through a small group of "fences," "chop shops," or exported to
foreign countries for illicit resale or other purposes; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to Resolution No. 2024-33338, MBPD conducted proactive
undercover operations using "bait" bikes and scooters equipped with tracking devices,
along with other investigative means, to identify and substantially disrupt the
persons/networks responsible for many bicycle and scooter thefts occurring in the City;
and
WHEREAS, as set forth in Letter to Commission ("LTC") No. 306-2025, the MBPD
operation resulted in the arrest of seven (7) different subjects for a variety of felony
charges including: Grand Theft, Use of a Two-Way Communication Device in Furtherance
of Criminal Activity, Violation of Probation, and Dealing in Stolen Property; and
WHEREAS, MBPD also obtained a search warrant signed by a judge and, in
executing the search warrant, discovered a South Beach residential location (the
residence of 1 of the 7 arrestees)to be the site of a fencing operation where thieves could
offload recently stolen bicycles; and
WHEREAS, MBPD detectives recovered stolen property valued in excess of
$18,000.00 at the residence and cleared (solved) several open criminal cases; and
WHEREAS, since the subject's arrest, MBPD has seen a 36% decrease in
incidents in the residential area of South Beach when comparing the 60-day period prior
to the arrest versus the 60-day period after the arrest (42 vs. 27 non-Citibike incidents);
and
WHEREAS, MBPD also developed information, and conducted an operation,
pertaining to a South Beach licensed business establishment located on Washington
Avenue where an employee was buying electric scooters that MBPD presented as
"stolen," which also resulted in the arrest of that individual; and
WHEREAS, renewing and strengthening such undercover operations could help
identify additional subjects, leading to more arrests, enforcement action, and a further
decrease in bicycle and scooter thefts in the City; and
WHEREAS, it is in the best interest of the residents and visitors of the City for the
Administration to renew and enhance its proactive approach, by utilizing "bait" bicycles
and electric scooters, undercover operations, and other investigative means, in order to
continue addressing bicycle and scooter thefts, thereby improving public safety and
residents' quality of life.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE MAYOR AND CITY
COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, that the Mayor and City
Commission hereby direct the City Administration to have the Police Department renew
and strengthen its highly successful proactive undercover operation, pursuant to
Resolution No. 2024-33338, by using "bait" bicycles and electric scooters, along with any
additional investigative means, in order to combat bicycle and scooter thefts in the City;
and further, directing the Administration to report its results, via Letter to Commission, at
the end of the Operation.
PASSED AND ADOPTED this 3 day of �1��"��r , 2025.
ATTEST: •
__._
Steven Meiner, Mayor
�'��' � � �1��7ti
Rafael E. Granado, City Clerk _-r��``�B���tcti,,
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(Sponsored by Commissioner David Suarez) ; .IN�ORoo�:� %
�o�aiE°' = APPROVED AS TO
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Resolutions - C7 O
MIANIIBEACH
COMMISSION MEMORANDUM
TO: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Commission
FROM: City Attorney Ricardo J. Dopico
DATE: September 3, 2025
TITLE: A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF
MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, DIRECTING THE CITY ADMINISTRATION TO HAVE
THE MIAMI BEACH POLICE DEPARTMENT RENEW AND STRENGTHEN ITS
HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL PROACTIVE UNDERCOVER OPERATION, PURSUANT
TO RESOLUTION NO. 2024-33338, BY USING "BAIT" BICYCLES AND ELECTRIC
SCOOTERS, ALONG WITH ANY ADDITIONAL INVESTIGATIVE MEANS, IN
ORDER TO COMBAT BICYCLE AND SCOOTER THEFTS IN THE CITY; AND
FURTHER, DIRECTING THE ADMINISTRATION TO REPORT ITS RESULTS, VIA
LETTER TO COMMISSION. AT THE END OF THE OPERATION.
RECOMMENDATION
BACKGROUND/HISTORY
ANALYSIS
The attached Resolution was prepared at the request of the sponsor. Commissioner David
Suarez.
FISCAL IMRACT STATEMENT
The sponsor of this item requests that the Administration be prepared to address the fiscal impact
of this proposed measure, if any, at the City Commission meeting.
Does this Ordinance require a Business Impact Estimate?
(FOR ORDINANCES ONLY)
If applicable, the Business Impact Estimate (BIE) was published on:
See BIE at: htt4s://www.miamibeachfl.qov/city-hall(city-clerk/meetinq-notices/
FINANCIAL INFORMATION
CONCLUSION
702 of 1750
Applicable Area
Citywide
Is this a "Residents Riqht to Know" item, Is this item related to a G.O. Bond
pursuant to Citv Code Section 2-17? Proiect?
No No
Was this Aqenda Item initiallv requested bv a lobbvist which, as defined in Code Sec. 2-481,
includes a principal enqaqed in lobbyinq? No
If so, specify the name of lobbyist(s) and principal(s):
Department
City Attorney
Sponsor(sl
Commissioner David Suarez
Co-sponsor(s)
Condensed Title
Renew and Strengthen MBPD's Bait Bicycle and Scooter Operation. (Suarez) CA
Previous Action (For Citv Clerk Use Onlv)
703 of 1750