Man caught on camera breaking into Thai restaurant in Coral Gables

Bernard Brantley, 21, believed to have burglarized 3 Moon Thai locations

CORAL GABLES, Fla. – A 21-year-old man is facing multiple charges after he was captured on surveillance video breaking into three Moon Thai restaurants, authorities said.

Coral Gables police said the latest burglary was reported May 13 at the Moon Thai restaurant at 1118 S. Dixie Highway.

According to an incident report, surveillance video shows a man smashing the front glass door of the business just after 1 a.m. 

Police said the man used a claw hammer to pry open the cash drawer and steal the register and the nightly deposits.

Detectives said the man, identified as Bernard Brantley, appeared to know his way around the restaurant and walked straight to the cash drawer.

Nothing else was taken from the business.

Police said Brantley was wearing a hooded sweatshirt, gloves and something covering his face during the burglary. Police said he was captured on surveillance video in an alley behind the restaurant, only this time he wasn't wearing the hoodie.

Detectives believe that Brantley is the same person who was captured on surveillance video burglarizing other Moon Thai restaurants, including one on May 10 at Southland Mall in Cutler Bay and another on May 11 at the restaurant's Kendall location.

A Coral Gables detective met with detectives June 12 in Cutler Bay who said they had arrested Brantley in connection with the Southland Mall burglary.

The detective met with Brantley the next day at the Metro West Correctional Facility in Doral, and said he confessed to all three burglaries.

Police said Brantley claimed that he acted alone in each of the burglaries and was drunk and needed money.

He said he sold an iPad that he stole from one of the restaurants to a woman on the street for $100, authorities said. 

Brantley remains in jail on multiple charges, including burglary, theft and criminal mischief. 


About the Authors:

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