Posh Gables Neighborhood Dealing With A Rash Of Burglaries
CORAL GABLES (CBS4) - Coral Gables is known as one of South Florida's wealthiest and safest zip codes. It's also known as "the City Beautiful."
However, residents near the Riviera Country Club have been complaining to Police recently about an ugly crime trend.
They say there have been an increase in break-ins and burglaries on Santa Maria Street, and several surrounding blocks.
Residents reached their breaking point this week, when another high end home was burglarized.
They called for a meeting with top brass from the Coral Gables Police Department. Coral Gables City Manager Pat Salerno was also in attendance.
While the entire neighborhood was invited to the meeting with police, CBS4 News cameras were asked to leave. Some residents were concerned about calling attention to their neighborhood issue.
In police reports posted online, CBS4 News discovered thousands of dollars worth of jewelry has been taken from area homes. Some of the break-ins involved broken windows and pried open french doors.
In other cases, cars parked in front driveways were stolen, while others were broken into in broad daylight.
Coral Gables Police Spokesman Dean Wellinghoff told CBS4's Brian Andrews, "we've had some citizens request a meeting to address concerns they have about some burglaries in the neighborhood. As a department, we're committed to catching the criminal element and making this communty the safest we can possibly make."
As of Thursday, CBS4 News noticed at least three Coral Gables Police cars doing regular patrols on Santa Maria Street.
