SURFSIDE, Fla. (WSVN) — A South Florida homeowner said her sense of security has been violated one too many times after, she said, an area resident she knows broke into her home twice in less than 24 hours.
The homeowner, who asked not to be identified or show her face on camera, said she spotted the alleged perpetrator in her Surfside residence on Byron Avenue, Tuesday, at around 7 p.m. "He stepped on the pot, and then he jumped because he’s a slim guy," she said.
"Every drawer was open, window broken," she continued.
Hours later, just before 11 a.m. on Wednesday morning, the homeowner said she caught the same man inside her home. "When I open the door, I hear somebody inside the house," she said.
The homeowner said the man stole thousands of dollars in jewelry from her home. To add insult to injury, she added, he is not a stranger.
She said the suspect is a neighbor she watched grow up for 20 years. "It broke my heart. This guy, he used to pet my dog and lay with the dog and play with him all the time," she said.
Surfside Police are hoping the public will help them find the suspect, whom they identified as 26-year-old Michael Rodriguez. "It’s not something we see very often, that’s for sure," Surside Police Detective Marian Cruz.
Detectives said Rodriguez has a criminal history. They described him as a bold burglar known for breaking in where he doesn’t belong. "I believe that he really doesn’t think about it," said Cruz. "He’s brazen enough to do it. I believe he will do it to anybody."
The homeowner said Rodriguez has stolen from her before, but she didn’t report it because she knows his family. However, she hastened to add that she’s had enough.
When asked if she wants to see Rodriguez behind bars, the homeowner replied, "Absolutely, because it’s the only way that he will be away. Nobody in this neighborhood deserves something like that."
The suspect remains at large. If you have any information on his whereabouts, call Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at 305-471-TIPS. Remember, you can always remain anonymous, and you may be eligible for a $1,000 reward.