Bandit Makes Off With VW Bug From Car Wash
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MIAMI (CBSMiami) - Imagine taking your vehicle to a car wash and having it stolen--that's what happened to a Southwest Miami-Dade woman who says she feels "violated."
Miami-Dade Police, and the 21-year-old victim, are asking for the public's help as detectives are releasing new surveillance tape that shows the suspect inside the car wash on a cell phone and videotape of that thief driving away with the victim's car.
"It is my baby," said Deidra Tigertail. "It was the first car I got on my own. I used it to go to work and to school. I was so upset. My siblings loved this car. It was special."
Tigertail told CBS4's Peter D'Oench, "I was so upset. I didn't know what to do. I cried. I was angry, more at the car wash and the people there than anything else."
"I've been going there for years with my family," she said. "It blows my mind that the person said he was my boyfriend and got the keys from an employee there and my car was stolen. I assume someone was watching me and knew where to look. Now everything inside my car is gone."
Miami-Dade Police said the incident happened at 10 AM on April 6th at the car wash on SW 8th Street at SW 137th Ave.
Surveillance tape captures the suspect walking around the lobby of the business, talking on a cell phone.
Click here to WATCH CBS4 Peter D'Oench's report
Moments later, Tigertail is seen giving her keys to an employee. And then the suspect is seen walking outside and getting in the car and backing up and driving away as attendant Hector Vargas goes after the car.
Neither Vargas nor a new manager at the car wash said they could comment about what happened.
Tigertail said her car was recovered by police two weeks after the theft.
It is now being repaired.
"I don't want it back," said Tigertail. "I feel violated. It feels like someone took everything from me. I don't want to look at it."
She said she did not recognize the suspect. She said she hopes someone will recognize him.
"If they know that person, turn him in," she said. "I wouldn't want this to happen to anyone else, especially being a young girl there like myself."
Anyone who help Miami-Dade Police find the suspect should call Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at (305) 471-TIPS (8477).
Watch surveillance. Source: MDPD/YouTube
