Police Arrest Man Accused Of Breaking Into Coconut Creek Homes While Families Slept
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COCONUT CREEK (CBSMiami) – One of the three men accused of terrorizing people in Coconut Creek by breaking into homes while families slept inside is now behind bars.
Police said surveillance video captured Terrance Smith covering his head as he ransacked a home.
Jeff Levin's home was broken into. He's glad Smith was caught.
"The home invasion was the worst part," Levin said, "Being there, and having them come in while I'm asleep," he said.
Investigators said Smith has been a very busy guy, part of a crime crew breaking into homes and cars from West Palm to North Broward, including 14 cars and two homes in the Meadows neighborhood in Deerfield Beach.
"They would go when they were in need of money or easy cash," said BSO Det. Kaly Edwards-DeMattia. "They would go into a neighborhood and look for unlocked vehicles."
Police said Smith gave up some names of others in the crime syndicate.
One man captured on surveillance with a flashlight was identified as Joe, the ringleader.
Another man, Mike, was cruising around with Smith and Joe in a white Mercury with a blue top.
Investigators say in this case, crime certainly did not pay – both figuratively and literally.
"Terrance was supposed to receive $20 from ring leader Joe, which is pretty small amount considering the life felonies that he's looking at," said Det. Joseph Barreto from the Coconut Creek Police Department."
While Smith could face life in prison if convicted, Levin figures he could have paid a much heftier price.
"Or worse for him, he could have gotten an angry homeowner and we could have had a gun and woken up and that would be the end of his life," Levin said.
Smith faces 30 different charges in connection with cases in Broward and Palm Beach Counties. He's being held with no bond.
If you have information that can locate the two men who are still at large, call Broward Crime Stoppers at (954) 493-TIPS.
