Cameras Capture Thief Steal Safe Filled With Cash For Students From Miami School
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MIAMI (CBSMiami) – New surveillance tape captured a burglar ransacking a Miami school before he stole a safe with more than $5,000 in cash in it.
School officials and students are heartbroken as the money that was stolen was for students' field trips, camps and retreats.
"I feel bad, really bad," said Jose Oyuela, a third grade student at La Progresiva Presbyterian School at NW 7th St. and NW 25th Ave.
Oyuela told CBS4's Peter D'Oench, "Students pay this money and it is gone. I would say give it back."
Miami police said the criminal was captured on surveillance tape scouring the kitchen of the school and then rummaging through the main office where the safe was stolen. At one point, he sees a camera and smashes it with a wrench.
Workers spent the day cleaning up the school. In light of the damage, school was canceled for the day and students were sent home.
Lt. Freddie Cruz of the Miami Police Department said the crime happened around 1 a.m. and said the criminal was inside the school for at least an hour.
"He's able to get away with a safe containing over $5,000 in U.S. currency," said Cruz. "He couldn't have gotten far. The safe weighs over a ton."
Ailynn Hernandez, the Director of the school, said "That money was for children's field trips and their camps. Parents save through the year and it is budgeted for the kids to go on trips. So it is a sad thing."
More than 600 youngsters from pre-kindergarten through 12th grade attend the school that was founded in 1971.
"This is a school where 99 percent of the kids are on scholarships," said Hernandez. "So it's not like this money is easy to come by."
Melissa Rego, the principal of the school, said, "He just stole from over 60 kids. They were planning to go to a school retreat this week. They have been looking forward to the retreat all year long."
Rego showed D'Oench where the burglar broke in.
"This is where the suspect came in through here by breaking this glass window," she said, pointing to a window on the second floor.
The criminal also went up in to the attic before going to rooms throughout the school, even ransacking a closet.
Cruz said, "He looks very comfortable being in this building for over an hour. We don't know. Maybe he visited the premises before. Maybe he's a former student."
Rego added, "I think the person is so comfortable as if it's OK to come in to a school and steal from kids."
Even though the burglar seemed to be familiar with the school grounds, his face wasn't familiar with those who reviewed the tapes.
"We have never seen him before. Our church pastor has never seen him before," Hernandez said.
Police need your help catching him.
Cruz said, "We are asking the community to come forward and let us know any information so we can put this guy behind bars before he strikes again."
Anyone who can help Miami Police should call Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at (305) 471-TIPS (8477).
