2 accused of stealing Christmas presents

Gerardo Benedit, Victoria Lopez charged with grand theft, petit theft

MIAMI – Miami-Dade police arrested two people accused of stealing Christmas presents.

Police on Tuesday charged 20-year-old Gerardo Benedit and 20-year-old Victoria Lopez with several counts grand theft and petit theft.

Surveillance video captured the pair grabbing a delivery box off the front porch of a home in the 3300 block of Southwest 140th Avenue on Monday, according to an arrest affidavit. The homeowner saw Benedit taking the box and getting in Lopez's car.

"These subjects were taking advantage of that opportunity by retrieving those packages that were left by the delivery companies and making off with them," said Det. Romelio Martinez.

Police tracked the pair to Lopez's home, where they saw them carrying boxes to her car and driving away. Officers pulled them over and took them into custody.

Both Benedit and Lopez confessed to stealing packages, said Martinez.

"They wanted to see what they could do to make the situation a little better by making sure that at least some of the kids got their Christmas gifts back," he said.

On Wednesday, detectives showed off some of the items recovered from the pair, including toys, clothes, electronics, and a penguin, which was the first item they stole, said Martinez (pictured below).

Benedit stole gifts last year, too, said Martinez.

"As this Christmas approached, he thought that it would be a good idea because of Cyber Monday," he said. "They committed approximately 50 thefts."