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A Miami Cuban was sent to prison this week after being arrested for stealing a truck with two small children inside in northwest Miami-Dade.
The events took place on January 22, around 4:39 p.m., and were captured by surveillance cameras in the area, the police reported.
Jorge Richar Casola Martínez, 19 years old, was arrested this Monday and faces two counts of kidnapping, one for second-degree grand theft and another for grand theft of a vehicle, according to the Miami-Dade County jail records cited by NBC6 South Florida.
Officials from the Miami-Dade Sheriff's Office reported that the theft occurred when the mother of the two- and six-year-old children parked her truck on Northwest 50th Street, near 71st Avenue, and entered a business where she was supposed to deliver 175 iPhones, valued at over $77,000.
The woman left the car running outside, with the two minors in the back seat and a box with the cell phones.
A surveillance video shows the moment she enters through a hallway of the business; her SUV, a white 2022 Mitsubishi Outlander, is out of sight of the camera.
Seconds later, a silver Hyundai Palisade pulls up on the street, and a hooded person exits through the back door and runs toward the van. The car speeds off quickly, and behind it, the stolen vehicle can be seen leaving.
After about 12 minutes, the SUV was found abandoned at the intersection of Northwest 47th Street and Northwest 74th Avenue, with both children safe. However, the box with the iPhones had disappeared.
According to the arrest report, the woman had picked up the 175 iPhones from a business on Northwest 68th Street and was supposed to deliver them to the address from which Casola Martínez stole the vehicle.
The car in which the Cuban arrived at this final location was seen earlier outside the business where the woman collected the phones, near her truck. The police stated that the accused followed her to the place where she was supposed to make the delivery.
The investigators were able to identify the license plate of the Palisade through surveillance footage, which led them to discover that the car was rented and locate the suspect. The vehicle had been rented by a man named José Yoan Ledoux Rodríguez, but it was paid for with the credit card of Casola Martínez, revealed a news portal from Miami.
The officers tracked the car's GPS and located it at the scene of the robbery. Additionally, in another video, they saw Casola Martínez wearing the same clothing as the suspect captured on camera.
On Tuesday, Casola Martínez appeared in the Miami-Dade bail court. A judge ordered him to remain in custody without the right to bail on the kidnapping charges.
Frequently Asked Questions About Vehicle Theft with Kids Inside in Miami
What happened in the vehicle theft incident in Miami?
A young Cuban man was arrested for stealing a van with two children inside in Miami. The vehicle was taken while the children's mother was making a delivery of iPhones worth more than $77,000. Fortunately, the children were found unharmed after the incident.
Who is the suspect in the vehicle theft in Miami?
The suspect has been identified as Jorge Richar Casola Martínez, 19 years old. He was arrested and faces charges of kidnapping, second-degree grand theft, and grand theft of a vehicle. Casola Martínez was held without bail due to the severity of the charges.
How was the suspect of the robbery located?
The police were able to identify the suspect thanks to the surveillance camera footage and the GPS tracking of the vehicle used by Casola Martínez. This evidence was crucial for his arrest and subsequent charges in Miami-Dade court.
What is the context of similar robberies in Miami?
Miami has experienced several similar incidents of vehicle thefts with minors inside. These events reflect a worrying pattern of crimes involving Cuban citizens, highlighting the need for stricter security measures and collaboration between the community and local authorities to prevent future incidents.
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