According to arrest papers, a guy was taken into custody on Tuesday for allegedly stealing mail in Miami Beach to find cocaine, credit cards, and blank checks.
Yoel Ojeda, 46, is charged with petit theft, criminal mischief, breaking into an occupied house, and having the personal identification of five or more people.
After a man was seen sneaking into a Miami Beach building twice and stealing people’s mail in several photos and videos, several locals contacted NBC6.
According to the police, on September 15 at around two in the morning, Ojeda used what seemed to be a crowbar to pry open a mailbox door and place the contents in a bag. An arrest report stated that he attempted to unlock two additional mailboxes but was unsuccessful.
It was also stated that on September 11 and 12, he had targeted the Admiral Towers at 1020 Meridian Avenue. He is charged in one of those incidences with inflicting damages of around $5,000 in addition to an unidentified victim.
Ojeda allegedly confessed when he was arrested Tuesday, and “stated that he breaks into mailboxes looking for drugs. He also stated that he used the credit cards found in the mail to make purchases for food, clothing items, or gas. The [defendant] also stated that when he finds black checks, he writes them out to himself and deposits them,” an arrest report describes.
When he was taken into custody, authorities claimed he had five credit cards and an identity card that did not belong to him.
According to the police, the defendant also reportedly acknowledged that he drove his Infinity to the beach where the burglaries were committed. He is currently free on bond from Broward County after being charged with fraud and other related offences.
Authorities said that Ojeda broke into four mailboxes and caused damages estimated at $5,000 in January when he was accused of another mail theft.
“Definitely have the feeling that it was premeditated and that we’ve been scoped out and he’s a criminal of opportunity,” said Mark, a resident of the building on West Avenue for 30 years. “I think he was waiting for it to happen.”
NBC6 spoke with several residents who expressed shock.
It’s a cause for concern. After ten years in the building, Rosie Ciavolino stated, “We are all on alert.”
A few people were alarmed.
“Feeling violated and vulnerable,” reported Mark.
