‘Operation Growing Pains’ Yields Arrests Of Sophisticated Burglary Ring In Miami-Dade County

MIAMI (CBSMiami) – Miami-Dade authorities have broken up an alleged high-tech theft ring in what they called “Operation Growing Pains.”

Authorities said the theft ring includes 10 people. Prosecutors also said the ring included the ring leader’s mother and girlfriend.

They discovered it all after one person was arrested for trafficking marijuana from grow houses and that suspect’s two cell phones showed an operation similar to a movie.

10 people were arrested during Operation Growing Pains. (CBS4)

“They would stalk and surveil their planned victims before committing the burglaries. Sometimes preparing weeks in advance before they would strike,” Miami-Dade State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle.

The state attorney says the ring’s list included targeting a New York Yankees relief pitcher, who was almost a victim.

“They also felt very arrogant, very bold, and brash about what they were doing. They felt, that what appears from these photographs, they were unstoppable,” the chief prosecutor said.

The crimes date back to, at least 2018. The state attorney says they tracked victims through open pages on social media.

They looked at pricey jewelry and their locations.

At times, they’re accused of going as far as placing a tracking device on a victim’s car.

Prosecutors say suspects recorded video of victims’ homes and even followed them.

It may sound like undercover work because it’s similar to what detectives did to track down suspects.

“They were using it to find the victims and we were using it against them to find them,” the state attorney said.

Earlier this month, accused ring leader Xandi Garcia was charged in connection to breaking into and stealing jewelry from a Miami Beach hotel room during super bowl weekend. It’s where a celebrity jeweler was staying.

Also, you may remember a picture of a man wearing a black hoodie with his face covered during a theft last October in Miami-Dade.

Investigators say the suspect, who was involved in this ring, posted a picture on his social media stating “no face, no crime.”

The state attorney said he thought he could get away by posting the picture.

“One of our lessons is to be very mindful when you’re doing that. There are bad guys out there waiting for you,” she said.

The state attorney says eight of the ten suspects are facing racketeering charges.

Prosecutors say they also found evidence the suspects wanted this operation to grow.

Search On For Killer In Lauderdale Lakes

MIAMI (CBSMiami) – Oakland Park relatives of 24-year-old Luis Rodriguez are heartbroken.

“The reality is hitting in that we lost my little cousin,” a relative said.

That’s a woman who is too emotional to show her face and reveal her name since she’s worried because whoever killed her cousin in Lauderdale Lakes is still on the run.

“Please help so we can get justice for my cousin and he can rest in peace,” she said.

Sunday night, drivers were going in and out of carefree cove near MLK and Oakland Park boulevards. This is where Broward deputies say the victim was shot and killed Saturday just before 5 p.m. in the evening. It’s still unclear what led to the violence.

“He’s a sweet kid. Funny. Always joking,” she said.

That’s why they’re wondering who would take his life and they don’t know his connection to this gated mobile home community. It’s a neighborhood filled with families, including small children. So, this family wants any witnesses or neighbors to help detectives make an arrest.

“If anyone has any information, please contact Crimestoppers and help investigators find out who murdered my cousin,” she said.

As for the victim’s mother, this is her second time losing a child. It’s a loss that also impacted Rodriguez.

“She was born with an illness in her bones. She passed away at 19 in 2007. It affected him a lot,” the cousin said.

Now this family is not only looking for a killer but also preparing to say goodbye.

A gofundme page has been set up to assist the family. Click here if you would like to help.

No Bond For Man Accused Of Attacking 2 Girls, Including His Own Daughter, With Machete

LAUDERHILL (CBSMiami) – The man accused of using machete to attack two girls, including his own daughter, appeared before a judge in bond court Saturday.

“I do find probable cause,” the judge said.

Dennis Reid is facing attempted murder and aggravated child abuse charges.

Police said the 47-year-old attacked his 10-year-old daughter Friday morning inside a home. She now has a neck injury.

Investigators said he also attacked that child’s 17-year-old sister. She’s suffering from injuries on her head, arm and hand.

“I can’t man. I’m so weak in the legs. It’s hard to swallow,” the teen’s uncle said Friday.

He learned directly from the children’s mother about the serious injuries.

“She called me that her daughter got cut in the face,” he said.

Police also described the panic-stricken 911 call.

“We received a frantic 911 call of an individual chopping up females,” the spokesperson for Lauderhill police said.

That machete was still on scene outside the home near West Sunrise Boulevard and 441.

Chopper 4 was above the home and had a view of relatives who were devastated.

They’re still wondering why those girls were hurt so badly and a judge told the suspect to avoid trying to reach out them.

“You are ordered by the court not to have contact with any of the victims. If you violate that order, you could be held in contempt of court and face further sanctions,” the judge said Saturday.

He also denied bond on the attempted murder charges, which means Reid won’t be walking out of jail anytime soon.

Police said those girls will survive and they’re currently recovering.

Investigators added a third child was home at the time but she wasn’t hurt.