Nearly A Dozen Vehicles Broken Into At West Dade Regional Library HQ

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MIAMI (CBSMiami) - Windows were shattered and items were taken from nearly a dozen county vehicles at the West Dade Regional Library headquarters Monday night.

Surveillance video shows one man in baggy pants spent 45 minutes breaking into the vehicles at Coral Way and 94th Avenue.

James Rustin is the maintenance manager for the library.

"We're not sure what was taken. We are doing an initial report, 10 vehicles had broken windows. There is about $5,000 in damage. Every vehicle was extensively damaged and we are assessing what was taken," he said.

Police say he may have been looking for tools. Rustin said he took anything of value.

"It appears from the video that he was taking loose change. He went into every vehicle and open all the doors and checked them out," he said.

The vehicles are used to service Miami-Dade's 50 public libraries. With 20 percent of the vehicles now out of service, Rustin said this could significantly impact services.

Library patrons told CBS4'S Peter D'Oench that they were stunned by the crime.

"Well it's really shocking," said Emilia Aparicio. "I never thought something like this would happen here."

"Well the person who did this was desperate," said Marilyn Riggins. "That's what it comes down to. People get in a certain mode and they can not get out of it. It is a real shame. He was desperate or high or both. And you know people sometimes have to do what they do to live."

"The problem is the loss here comes out of the public's pocket," she added. "The vehicles cannot be used. They can not go out to sites normally used to help people out there. And there are a lot of people out there like the elderly who look forward to these services."

Police have released the surveillance tape to the media, Rustin hopes someone will recognize this burglar.

"We are reaching out to the public, If you see this guy and know anything about this crime please help us out. This guy put this, the library system's operation, in danger," he said.

MIami-Dade Police Detective Argemis Coloma told D'Oench that so far police do not have a detailed description to release of the suspect.

Anyone with information can call Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at (305) 471-TIPS.