Police Investigate A String Of Car Burglaries
Posted on Aug 15, 2011 10:03am PDT
WSVN reports that Miami Police are looking for a suspect who was allegedly caught on surveillance video breaking into several vehicles.
Police have said that eight cars were burglarized at an apartment complex along Southwest Sixth Street and 11th Avenue, in Little Havana, overnight Sunday.
The suspected burglar can been seen on surveillance video smashing the windows of several cars and stealing whatever he can find inside.
Burglary of an unoccupied conveyance (car) in the State of Florida is a third-degree felony, punishable by up to 5 years in prison. People accused of this crime are usually charged with other crimes, such as
theft (petit or grand, depending on what is alleged to have been stolen), and
criminal mischief for any damage done to the vehicle.
Restitution is almost always an issue when faced with a charge of burglary of an unoccupied conveyance. Typically, it's the alleged victim's insurance deductible (usually $500), but that's only if the alleged victim has comprehensive coverage (meaning that acts of vandalism are covered). If the alleged victim does not have comprehensive coverage, the State may be seeking thousands of dollars in restitution to cover the damage.
Provided a withhold of adjudication is imposed, you may seal a burglary of an unoccupied conveyance.
Eric Matheny is a criminal defense attorney serving Miami-Dade and Broward. Call today to discuss your case.