A new robbery attempt in southwest Miami-Dade has raised alarms among local merchants, who fear that a group of Cuban criminals may be behind a series of assaults on high-end perfume businesses in the area.
The incident occurred in the early hours of Wednesday, around 3:00 am, at the Valencia Perfumes store, located on 107 Avenue and 40 Street.
At least four individuals arrived at the establishment and attempted to force the back door open with a cutting tool. However, the attempt was thwarted when the tool ran out of battery.
Security cameras captured the moment when the suspects tried to make it work, featuring dialogues that reveal expressions typical of Cuban speakers, along with their distinctive accent.
The owner of the establishment, Ulises Valencia, reported to Telemundo 51 that his store had already been a victim of a robbery over a year ago, when thieves made off with approximately $100,000 worth of high-end perfumes.
"They know that we have expensive perfumes here. There are fragrances that cost 400 or 500 dollars, and they sell them on the black market for half the price, in just one day," he explained.
Valencia suspects that those responsible could be the same individuals who acted in the past and operate in a coordinated manner.
The merchant shared on his social media the video of the robbery recorded by the security camera. Thanks to this, he was able to find out that the individuals used a stolen vehicle.
"Thanks to the community, we found out that the car they used is stolen. The person realized it was their car and called me. They said, 'Look, that's my car, I reported it stolen on October 4, and not even the detective has called me to say there is any additional information,'" Ulises questioned.
According to the owner, other perfume businesses in the area have also been targets of recent theft attempts.
"I have a friend named Santiago, who was also a victim. And an acquaintance, Leidy, who was almost robbed on Monday. They are doing this frequently because the cases are not being resolved," he stated.
The Miami-Dade Sheriff's Office confirmed that they are aware of these incidents and that the investigations remain open.
Authorities urge merchants to report all cases and request the community's collaboration in helping to identify and capture the suspects.
It is reminded that any information can be reported immediately to the county crime tip line, with the possibility of receiving a monetary reward.
This new attempted robbery highlights a disturbing pattern of crimes targeting perfumeries in Miami-Dade and the perception of impunity that, according to local merchants, has allowed offenders to repeat their actions without immediate consequences.
Filed under:
