$3,100 worth of tools, other items stolen during vehicle burglary in Miami

Burglary reported inside apartment building's parking garage

MIAMI – A thief made off with about $3,100 worth of tools and other items while burglarizing a vehicle in a parking garage in Miami, authorities announced Monday in a news release.

The theft occurred shortly before 1:30 a.m. Oct. 9 at 3650 NW 36th St.

"I'm still without work because I don't have my tools," the victim, Elvin Mondragon, said. "I'm trying to get back my tools. You know, working. But it's hard for me."

According to authorities, the victim parked his gray 2017 Toyota Tundra pickup truck on the fifth floor of his apartment building's parking garage the night before.

He returned to his truck the next morning to find that it had been broken into.

Police said surveillance video shows a man with a black bag full of burglary tools prying out the garage gate. He is then seen casing the parking garage for any vehicles that had been left unlocked. 

Police said the thief eventually targeted the pickup truck and pried open the rear tailgate top to steal the victim's property.

"He was checking car by car, and it was my bad day," Mondragon said.

Mondragon is a father of two and said working construction is how he provides for his family. He said more than anything he wants peace of mind and to get back to work. 

"I want to have my peace and go to sleep and wake up early in the morning without thinking, because, in fact, at 1 or 2 o'clock in the morning, I wake up. If I hear any noise, I start thinking, 'Oh, the guy's coming back.'" 

Anyone with information about the thief's identity is asked to call the Miami Police Department at 305-603-6030 or Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at 305-471-8477.
 


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.