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Milk Jug Moocher Caught On Camera

MIAMI (CBS4) - Steve Navarrate sat in the office of his home in the Roads section of Miami watching the video of the character who stole the milk can off his front stoop. It was not just any milk can, but a 1930's antique.

"It was a family heirloom. It was a bronze milk kettle. A Borden," Navarrate said, referring to the Borden Condensed Milk Company, founded in 1848.

Three security cameras at the 75 year-old home Navarrate and his wife are restoring captured the theft.

The thief arrived in a mid 1990's Mercury Sable or Ford Taurus, it's finish a very faded red, with a long dent creasing along the right rear side. The man who appeared to be in his 50's or 60's was wearing a polo shirt, Bermuda shorts and a ball cap.

He can be clearly seen on the security video, strolling up the front walk of the home, picking up the 50 pound antique and returning to this car, driving away.

Navarrete said his family moved to the Roads from North Miami because "the crime problem there had gotten a little serious in recent years."

Ironically, Navarrete said the milk can that was stolen within weeks of the family moving into the Roads had sat unmolested on the front porch of his North Miami home for 11 years.

Navarrate is quite the collector of antiques. He has a turn of the century metronome, an antique, trumpet, clarinet, typewriters and several antique telephones.

One of the phones about a century old, with an earpiece that lifts off a cradle and a mouthpiece on the front of the box is in working condition with a rotary dial and clear dial tone.

Navarette has taken his quest to nab milk can moocher to YouTube. His posting features various angles of the thief doing the deed, accompanied by childrens' musical artist Laurie Berkner singing "I'm gonna catch you, you better run. I'm gonna catch you, here I come."

"Hopefully somebody will see this guy, recognize him and report him to police," Navarrete said.

Police believe the thief probably lives in the neighborhood and that someone may recognize him from the YouTube or Facebook postings.

He may have stolen the milk jug to sell as scrap metal - or maybe has an eye for collectibles and knows a valuable antique when he sees one.

If you have information that can help in the investigation, please call CrimeStoppers at 305-471-TIPS(8477). You can also reach Steve directly by clicking here.

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