More than 50 homes stretching from Miami-Dade to Palm Beach County have been the target of thieves, and most of the times the crooks struck while the victims were out to dinner.
Police have dubbed the six people arrested for their participation in a burglary ring spanning three counties as the “Dinner Crew Set.” Home surveillance video captured one of the thieves in action — a masked man with a two way radio.
Authorities say the group targeted high end homes around dinner time. The total value of the jewelry stolen during the multiple home invasion robberies was more than $2 million.
Four of the victims live in the upscale Eastern Shores area of North Miami Beach, an area that has been targeted by a string of robberies in recent months.
One of the victims spoke to CBS4 News but didn’t want to reveal her identity.
“I had jewelry that was from my grandmother that I can never get back,” said the woman. “Maybe they’ll be able to find it, but the sentimental jewelry is what upset me, the invasion of the house. I haven’t felt comfortable since.”
Recovery of the jewelry might be difficult or nearly impossible. Much of the jewelry, police say, has been pawned or melted by the crooks to turn a profit.
“We’ve seen various aspects of this multi-jurisdictional criminal enterprise that extended into St. Lucie County, Palm Beach, Broward and Miami-Dade County, and continued north into the George,” says Amos Rojas Junior, special agent with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.
On Monday, police announced the arrests of the following individuals: Kane Lopez, 31, of Hallandale, Emery Lorenzo, 33, of Miami Lakes, Michael Chala, 24, of Miami Lakes, Silvia Ordonez, 40, of Miami, Jose Lorenzo, 47, of Miami, and Lazaro Tenreiro, 39, of Georgia.
They face numerous charges that include racketeering, conspiracy to commit racketeering, burglary, theft, dealing in stolen property, money laundering, and witness tampering.
In each incident, the suspects would enter a home, usually through a rear sliding glass door, and steal expensive jewelry including watches, rings, necklaces, gold bracelets, and other high-value items.
The FDLE worked with the Attorney General’s Office of Statewide Prosecution and numerous police agencies to make the arrests.