Police Capture Elusive “Cat Burglar…”
By Chief Fred Maas

Often times, it takes a little bit of luck, a cooperative effort between people and experienced personnel to get a job done. Sometimes it takes all three! Such was the case recently when Sunny Isles Beach police captured a cat burglar who was victimizing residents of a local hotel.

As a resort community we are not immune from the invasion of a criminal element. There are avenues for them to infiltrate our community and take advantage of opportunities to commit crimes. It is our job as public safety officials to deter or catch them.

Recently a cocaine addicted career criminal with a long criminal history, had been released from prison and was staying at a hotel room in our city. We started experiencing burglaries to rooms at an adjacent hotel/condominium while people were out of their rooms or slept. Obviously, this was very disconcerting and frustrating as there was very little description to go on and no real leads to follow.

However, tenacious detective work by Sunny Isles Beach detectives kept us learning a little more each time as to the modus operandi (M.O.) of the subject.

On Friday, July 14, in the wee hours of the morning, his luck ran out. He tried to enter an unlocked room, awakened the occupant who called police as he fled. A perimeter was set up immediately by officers who contained the subject in the area. Searching room by room of all the vacant rooms, the subject was found hiding and was arrested; with the property he had stolen. His streak of good luck, evasiveness and crime spree was OVER! Residents could breath easier now and once again enjoy the security of this community.

Unfortunately, there will always be those who for whatever reasons choose to do the wrong thing and lead a life of crime, and to victimize innocent people. I would like to congratulate the officers and detectives of Sunny Isles Beach Police Department, especially Detective Sgt. Mike Mulvey who spearheaded this investigation and captured this criminal, sending him back to PRISON.

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