Police search for thieves caught on camera

CORAL GABLES, Fla. (WSVN) -- A group of thieves who targeted a family while they were out to eat, left a clue to their identity behind.

Warning signs at a Coral Gables home were not enough to keep crooks out. The homeowners left their house at about 8:45 p.m. the night of Sept. 28, and less than a minute later, a car pulled up to the house and two people jumped out and headed towards the backyard.

That's when surveillance cameras captured the crooks. One of them was clearly visible. He is described as young, fair-skinned, well-groomed, with his hair tied back in a neat ponytail. He wore a blue-collared shirt tucked neatly into his jeans. The other crook appeared to be bald or have short buzzed hair.

"One of the subjects saw the camera," said Officer Dean Wellinghoff, "so he repositioned it. Clearly he's wearing a glove or sock or something or something on his hand that conceals fingerprints."

But the cameras did not scare them off, the men entered the house through an opened rear door. "Once they're inside," said Wellinghoff, "they steal several items of jewelry and also a laptop computer"

The loot is valued at about $2,500. In just over 15 minutes, the getaway car passed by the house and backed up to pick up the careless burglars who left their images behind. "They clearly wanted to do this undetected," said Wellinghoff, "but, by then, it was too late. At that point the camera had already caught him."

Police are looking for the men caught on surveillance and at least two others involved.

If you have any information on any of the people who may have been involved in the Coral Gables crime, 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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