Early Tuesday morning, a North Miami Beach shopping plaza became the latest target of vandalism, with several stores suffering smashed windows and burglaries. According to WSVN, the affected stores, including the uBreakiFix shop and the Guitar Nook, are located near Northwest 135th Street and Biscayne Boulevard. The extent of the theft is currently unclear as police continue to search for the individuals responsible for the crime spree.
Among the businesses hit was The Guitar Nook, which had its front door shattered by a rock hurled by the burglar. The manager reported to NBC Miami that the perpetrator managed to steal a few hundred dollars from the register. This was not the first incident of its nature; it echoed a past crime four years prior involving multiple stolen guitars. Meanwhile, the uBreakiFix did not report any stolen items, though they were left with the costly damage of a smashed door.
By the day's end, some affected stores had taken swift action to clean up and replace the damaged glass. However, the sense of security once felt within the local business community seems to be on precarious ground. Margaret Wynn, owner of Biscayne Professional Cleaners and neighbor to the vandalized stores, voiced her concerns in a statement obtained by NBC Miami, saying, "Please, I'm working hard, and you [should] work hard, too. Don't work hard in the night time, just break and take everything."
The North Miami Beach Police Department is urging anyone with information to come forward. They encourage contacting Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at 305-471-TIPS, reminding the community that tips can be given anonymously and may lead to receiving a reward of up to $5,000, as noted by WSVN.
