MIAMI — A Miami woman was arrested early Christmas Eve after allegedly breaking into an apartment building, vandalizing property, and stealing holiday decorations, mail, and medicine, authorities said.
The incident occurred at 6 a.m. at 2870 NW 18th Ave. Yamitza Ortega, property manager for TRG Management, told Miami police that surveillance cameras captured the suspect entering the building through an unlocked front door.
The suspect was seen vandalizing a fire extinguisher box valued at $250 and two electric panel covers worth $500.
Authorities said the suspect used a tool obtained from the damaged extinguisher box to break into two first-floor mailboxes. She then allegedly took three Christmas wreaths, valued at about $75, from apartments 2G, 4G, and 14G, as well as medicine from apartment 8B and mail from another resident.
Miami police found the suspect asleep in the building’s lobby with the stolen items. She was detained and arrested.
The suspect, identified as Hayla Alcantara Morejon, faces multiple charges, including burglary of an occupied structure, possession of burglary tools, criminal mischief, grand theft of a vehicle, and resisting an officer without violence. Authorities said she also has active warrants and was out on probation at the time of the arrest.
Morejon appeared in Miami-Dade bond court, where a judge found probable cause. The judge set bond totaling $13,500 and ordered her to stay away from 2870 NW 18th Ave. as a condition of release.
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