Sep 14, 2009 11:31 pm US/Eastern
Gucci Showroom Targeted By Smash & Grab Crooks
Happened At Village Of Merrick Park In Coral Gables
One Suspect In Custody
Others On The Loose
CORAL GABLES (CBS4) ―
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Jermaine L. Williams, 26, was booked and charged with burglary of an unoccupied structure, grand theft, grand theft of a motor vehicle, operating a motor vehicle without valid driver's license.
Coral Gables Police Department
Shakespeare wrote, "He who steals my purse steals trash." Shakespeare obviously didn't know Gucci.
Thieves stole purses worth thousands of dollars from the chi chi Gucci store at the upscale Village of Merrick Park in Coral Gables early Monday morning. Police say "several" burglars, driving three cars, used one of the cars to smash through the front door of the store about 5:20 a.m. A short while later, Miami police stopped a car with front end damage and discovered brand new purses, tags still attached, piled on the seats in plain view. The driver, a hulking guy in jeans and a T-shirt was held for questioning.
By Monday afternoon, the suspect -- Jermaine L. Williams, 26 -- had been booked and charged with burglary of an unoccupied structure, grand theft, grand theft of a motor vehicle and operating a motor vehicle without valid driver's license.
Gables residents accustomed to less boorish behavior strolled and jogged by the violated Gucci store Monday morning, disturbed to hear of the smash and grab.
"That is icky," said Roger Soman. "That is totally icky."
What makes it all the more icky is that the same store was targeted by thieves, using the same method of operation, eight months ago to the day. On January 14th, a group of thieves bashed in the Gucci store's front door with a car, and were then surprised by police answering a silent alarm. The burglars escaped capture though, making off with some $80,000 dollars worth of designer loot. That case has not been solved and no arrests have been made. At the time, police believed the same group of thieves may have committed a series of smash and grab burglaries at electronics and computer stores in Miami-Dade and Broward counties.
Gucci handbags start at about $1,000 apiece and can sell for as much as $25,000, according to an employee at the Gables store.
Coral Gables police Monday afternoon were still questioning the suspect caught holding the bags after Monday's burglary. They were also reviewing video from multiple security cameras that they believe recorded the thieves and their vehicles.
Anyone who can provide further information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at
305-471-TIPS(8477).
(© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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