Burglary State Statute, 810.02:

“Entering a dwelling, a structure, or a conveyance with the intent to commit an offense therein, unless the premises are at the time open to the public or the defendant is licensed or invited to enter”. Upon discovering a burglary to your home or business, the Miami Police Department Criminal Investigation Division recommends the following:

If you enter your home or business prior to the arrival of law enforcement, the Miami Police Departmental Criminal Investigations Division recommends the following:

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The Burglary Unit is an element within the Criminal Investigations Division. The Unit’s investigators are responsible for conducting the detailed investigations into all burglaries that occur within the City of Miami providing there are solvability factors that are determined by the facts of the case. The investigators will be assigned to the crime, will review the patrol officer’s report and conduct in-depth interviews with the victims and any potential witnesses to include exhausting all investigatory leads. Liaison with the Crime Scene Investigation Unit’s technicians will highlight any vital evidence, including fingerprints, or DNA retrieved from the crime scene.

Discussions with the crime analysts may uncover a pattern of similar criminal activities in the neighborhood, or identify a particular Modus Operandi or suspect.

Utilizing modern computer technology, investigators query national and local data bases for criminal histories, vehicle tag checks, and information regarding “wanted” criminals. If necessary, surveillance operations are initiated against any suspects. Ultimately, the goal of these activities will be the apprehension and arrest of the individual (or individuals) responsible for the crime. The investigator’s responsibilities do not end with the arrest. A series of reports are required to document all aspects of the investigation, including charging documents and other materials presented to the judge and jury in support of the ensuing judicial process. Often, the investigator, victim, and witnesses will be required to testify in the courtroom proceedings.

The Burglary Unit’s investigators are highly trained specialists, with a great deal of law enforcement experience in their backgrounds. In addition to the knowledge and expertise developed over years of professional police work, they receive formal training in interview and interrogation techniques, criminal investigation procedures, legal procedures, crime scene investigation, and criminal law. Upon transfer into the Burglary Unit, the investigator is mentored for two months with an experienced investigator designed to ease the transition into the unique investigative environment of the Burglary Unit.

Burglary Unit investigators actively participate in a series of periodic interagency meetings with burglary investigators and detectives from neighboring law enforcement organizations. These sessions are convened to facilitate the exchange of intelligence regarding burglaries among the investigators and analysts. The professional relationships that are developed at these meetings is invaluable. The intelligence shared among the participants often leads to the solution of particularly difficult crimes.

The Miami Police Department understands the crime of Burglary within our community and understand how frustrating and personal this crime may be to our victims.

The Criminal Investigations Division is committed to ensuring all solvability factors are thoroughly investigated during our investigations in our efforts to identify and apprehend the person(s) responsible for this crime.

Characteristics of a Burglar?

A high percentage of the subject(s) committing the crime of burglary are driven by their drug addictions. Often, burglary to a conveyance is the crime of choice for these subjects, as they operate under the cover of darkness and the risk of detection is minimal. Another fact supported by statistics is the career criminal and the desperate drug addicted subjects that target the homes of victims while they are away at work.

The proceeds from these crimes are barely enough to cover the cost of the drugs that feed their addictions. Some addictions can be hundreds, even thousands of dollars a day. On average, one stolen GPS will be worth $35 to $50 at a pawn shop, your one karat diamond ring may only be $100 worth of drugs when traded to a drug dealer. As you can see, these criminals are willing to accept far less for these stolen items than what you worked so hard to pay for.

What are the criminals looking for?

Most of these criminals are looking for anything of value that can be sold or traded for drugs. The most common items found in vehicles are GPS, IPods, cellular phones, computers, cash, purses and wallets, cameras, bank deposits, and firearms. Most homes are targeted for jewelry, electronics, cash, and prescription drugs.

Why are these subjects choosing these items?

Most criminals are betting that you did not record the serial numbers on all of your electronics and that you did not make a photographic record of these items, including your jewelry.

These criminals know that without this information, these items are not able to be traced to pawn shops or even to themselves if they are found to be in possession of them when stopped by the police. Keeping good records of your items will aide in the recovery should they be stolen from your home and/or your vehicle.

What are characteristics of a burglar?

There are a portion of vehicle burglaries that occur during the daytime. Often these crimes of opportunity involve the unsuspecting victim that leaves their vehicle for a short period of time and leaves property of value in plain view. Often these criminals will walk or ride a bike through parking lots looking into vehicles for valuable items, usually checking door handles for unlock vehicles. Sometimes those walking will be followed by a get-a-way vehicle. It is not uncommon for windows to be broken out. Some will watch the parking lot for a female to leave their car without their purse. They will approach the car and look for the purse; if it is present often they will break out the window and take it. In this type of incident the criminals will steal cash and credit cards, often using the credit or debit card prior to the victim returning to the vehicle and discovering the burglary. It’s always best to take valuables with you or secure them in the trunk.

Night time vehicle burglaries can occur anytime between 10 p.m. at night and 6 a.m. in the morning. These criminals have several methods of travel: walking, bicycle, or accompanied by a vehicle. Typically those on foot or bike will move about freely going from car to car as they travel through a neighborhood. They will hide if a vehicle approaches, usually lay down beside the car they’re near or hide between houses. Once the vehicle passes they will get up and resume criminal activity. Sometimes a vehicle is used, often pulling into a neighborhood and turning off its lights. One or two passengers will exit the vehicle and begin checking cars on both sides of the road, while the vehicle trails along with them.

If another vehicle approaches they simply drive off and return to pick up their accomplices. Some of these criminals will only target unlocked vehicles and some will break out windows. This is why it is important to remove all valuable items from the vehicle.

Residential burglary often occurs during the daytime when most residents are believed to be working. Often criminals will ride around in vehicles or park for periods of time looking for residents to leave their home. When they see someone leave their home or there appears to be no activity at a home the criminals will approach the home. The criminals will knock at the front door to ensure no one is home. They will then go to the back of the home and force entry into the home. Sometimes they may just kick in the front door.

There are criminals, including juveniles, who will walk or ride bicycles through your neighborhood.

They often look for the same absence of activity at a home and knock on the front door. If someone answers the door they claim to be looking for someone they know does not reside there. They may even try to present themselves as a business person. If this occurs, look for the following: clothing, identification, or a vehicle that would connect them to a legitimate business. The best policy is to never open the door to someone you do not know. If you should see a vehicle in your neighborhood that does not belong or if someone knocks at your door asking for someone that does not reside there call 911 right away and report it.