Crooks steal AC units from Miami restaurant

MIAMI (WSVN) -- Crooks remain at large after stealing the air conditioning units from a South Florida business.

The thieves stole two AC units from CafeSolé, located at 711 NW 27 Ave. in Miami.

Rene Delemar owns the business. Delemar's surveillance system was rolling as the thieves committed the crime, at around 11 p.m. Friday.

One suspect can be seen on surveillance unscrewing the AC units. Some time later, a black truck is seen driving by the business.

Delemar believes the truck was involved in the thefts, and said the crooks responsible did their homework. "They pretended that they were cleaning up, that they were some kind of gardening service or something," said Delemar. "They went ahead and cased the place first, and then, about half an hour later, they showed up, and they took the two units."

All that remains is the units' shells.

No AC means no business for the restaurant. "Naturally, this is going to affect my business, because I cannot open up with the heat. I don't have air conditioning inside, so that does affect the business," Delemar said. "It's disruptive, it's disheartening."

Delemar thinks he knows the motive behind the theft. "They stole the two air conditioning units, probably for the copper coils," he said.

According to Delemar, two other vehicles came by the scene during the theft, and those inside the cars did not alert authorities about the crime.

Miami Police are looking for the suspects behind the thefts.

If you have any information on these AC thefts, call Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at 305-471-TIPS. Remember, you can always remain anonymous, and you may be eligible for a reward.

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