A South Miami-Dade woman, Stephany Toledo, is confronting the aftermath of a home burglary that occurred while she was at a cancer treatment session. According to WSVN, the intruder was caught on an interior surveillance camera carrying a suitcase and smaller bag, apparently searching for valuables to steal. Toledo returned home to find her sense of safety shattered along with the glass of her front door. "Your sense of security is literally distorted. At that point, like, you feel like your home is not safe," she explained in an interview with WSVN.
Items stolen from Toledo's home included jewelry and other possessions with sentimental value, particularly those of her deceased mother. The burden of the theft has added stress to Toledo's life, a burden already heavy with the challenge of her health. According to NBC Miami, the thief rummaged through the residence and was in and out in approximately seven minutes. "It's like he knew the layout to the house," Toledo told WSVN.
After the break-in, Miami-Dade Police officers responded to the home with weapons prepared, but the perpetrator had already fled. The added pressure of having gone through this ordeal has left Toledo feeling vulnerable. "My cancer is literally stress-induced. I want this guy caught, definitely caught," she said during her account to WSVN. The individual suspected of the burglary remains at large, with Toledo sharing her security video on neighborhood apps in hopes someone will recognize the person responsible.
Toledo is now taking measures to prevent future incidents, including adding more surveillance cameras and sleeping near the entryway out of fear of a recurrence. "I sleep downstairs by the door. I've added more cameras; I'm scared he's going to come back and break in," Toledo confided to NBC Miami. Amidst her ongoing treatments, she has opened a GoFundMe to help replace the stolen items and repair the damage to her home. Community members have also been urged to come forward with any information they may have by contacting Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers, with the possibility of a reward for information leading to an arrest.
