Man Charged in Miami Business Burglaries Busted after Trying to Cash in Stolen Lottery Ticket, Police Say
Suspect’s M.O. Revealed
Miami Police officers hit the lotto when they caught a repeat burglar trying to cash in a lottery ticket he stole. The accused serial thief, 54-year-old Daniel Perez, was identified as the suspect who broke into the family-owned Sapir Market on Southwest 16th Street and 22nd Avenue in Miami.
Surveillance Footage Shows Suspect’s Entry
According to the police, Perez broke into the grocery store through the roof at around 3:30 a.m. on February 5. The alarm system alerted police, and officers responded to the scene. However, they didn’t notice any signs of forced entry until they checked the roof, where they found a large gaping hole and hammers and a crowbar.
Police Link Suspect to Multiple Burglaries
Police said this was not Perez’s first strike. They later linked him to several other rooftop burglaries dating back to January 11, including one at Cloud Smoke Shop on Southwest Eighth Street. Detectives used the scratch-off tickets to track him down.
Stolen Lottery Tickets Lead to Arrest
"These lottery tickets have a tracking to it, so if they’re a winning ticket, and you go cash it somewhere, we’ll know that these are the stolen tickets," said Miami Police Officer Michael Vega. Police discovered Perez was cashing them in in Alllapattah, where they tracked him down on Monday.
Arrest and Charges
Officers took the suspect into custody, and Perez appeared in bond court on Wednesday afternoon. He faces a list of charges, including burglary, grand theft, and criminal mischief. "Sir, you are ordered to stay away from the Dollar Plus Mini Mart," said Miami-Dade Circuit Court Judge Mindy S. Glazer. Perez is being held without bond at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center in West Miami-Dade because, investigators said, he was out on a felony bond for a different incident at the time of his arrest on Monday.
Conclusion
The case highlights the importance of having a tracking system in place for stolen lottery tickets. It also demonstrates the creative efforts of detectives to track down the suspect and bring him to justice.
FAQs
- What was the motive behind the suspect’s actions?
The suspect was motivated by financial gain, using stolen lottery tickets to cash in and purchase cigarettes. - How did police track down the suspect?
Police used the scratch-off tickets to track the suspect down, as they have a tracking system in place. - What charges is the suspect facing?
The suspect is facing charges of burglary, grand theft, and criminal mischief.
