Miami burglar tied to similar break-ins in Coral Gables

Police say man touches women while they're sleeping, flees the area

CORAL GABLES, Fla. – Coral Gables police say a man who burglarized numerous homes in Miami while victims lay sleeping in their beds also did the same thing in their city.

In the latest incident, police said the burglar targeted a home Tuesday in the 200 block of Mendoza Avenue.

Police said a woman was sleeping about 5:30 a.m. when she was awakened by the man. A brief struggle ensued, and the burglar fled in an unknown direction, officer said.

Police said the department has been investigating six overnight apartment burglaries over the last year in which women were awakened and touched by a burglar, who is believed to be the same man.

The man is described as a white male, between the ages of 20 to early 30s, wearing a hooded sweatshirt or other material to hide his identity.

Miami police are investigating similar crimes believed to involve the same culprit.

The Miami burglaries took place between 27th and 47th avenues, from West Flagler to Northwest 11th streets.

During one burglary, a victim woke up to find the burglar standing near her bed. When she called police, the burglar ran off.

In another burglary, a victim was asleep on the sofa when she was woke up to discover a man standing near her. Police said the man fled.

The earliest known burglary happened in April 2014. The most recent was reported on May 12.

Anyone who can identify the man from a composite sketch is asked to call Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at 305-471-TIPS.

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About the Authors:

Amanda Batchelor is the Digital Executive Producer for Local10.com.

Andrew Perez is a South Florida native who joined the Local 10 News team in May 2014.