Two detectives on a special surveillance mission restored $20,000 in property and solved eight residential burglaries in two counties, winning citations as the Miami- Dade Police Hammocks District’s Officers of the Month for November.
“This was a special effort we’ve launched to try to put an end to a string of home burglaries that have plagued otherwise peaceful neighborhoods in our area,” said Maj. Hernan M. Organvidez, praising the two-man team for tenacity.
As members of a special Burglary Analysis Investigation Team, Detectives Devon Dolam and Christopher Alfonso used special tracking equipment to follow a pair of suspects after identifying their use of a suspicious black Chevrolet Avalanche reportedly used in recent residential burglaries.
When its driver stopped the vehicle at a gas station to refuel during surveillance, Det. Alfonso noted an empty rear passenger area before its driver returned and motored off into Broward County.
Although temporarily losing their trail, the two officers reunited with the vehicle upon its return to Miami-Dade County, and were then able to spot several items occupying the same passenger area, not seen before.
At a strategic moment, the detectives stopped the Avalanche for a routine traffic infraction, allowing them to conduct an inventory that revealed “a substantial amount of miscellaneous property” in the back seat. With neither subject providing a valid reason for possession, the detectives impounded the property and had the vehicle towed away with an “investigative hold.”
Obtaining a court order to place a tracking device inside the impounded vehicle, the officers next discovered additional items in the covered bed area of the Avalanche and confiscated those articles, later revealed as taken during three separate burglaries in Broward County.
On the basis of the evidence, warrants were issued for both individuals. One of whom was arrested in Miami Beach and later admitted to the commission of five more burglaries, all in Hammocks District locations, resulting in arrests of both.
“We’re intent on reducing the numbers of burglaries through monitoring suspicious vehicles and using investigation reports to identify suspects to reduce if not end neighborhood crime waves.” added Maj. Organvidez.
“What is equally important is having our young officers experienced in more sophisticated surveillance methods.”
For their efforts, citations were presented to Detectives Dolam and Alfonso by CAC chair James Blough at the Citizens Advisory Committee meeting at Hammocks Police District Station on Nov. 28.
HAMMOCKS COPS COLLECTING TOYS FOR CHILDREN IN NEED
There still is time to donate unwrapped toys at the Miami-Dade Police Hammocks Station where Community Outreach Officers Laurel Wade and Adriana Cohen will play Santa Claus along with fellow officers.
They will bring holiday cheer to kids whose parents may be detained by the Department of Corrections, among other unfortunates including innocent juveniles who may face both a bleak and lonely Christmas.
Those donating need only bring unwrapped toys and games to the station at 10000 SW 142 Ave. in West Kendall, leaving them in a holiday collection box in the station lobby, open 24 hours.
For details, call the station’s non-emergency line at 305-279-6929.
