A series of apartment burglaries targeting elderly individuals in Coral Gables has led to the arrest of a 27-year-old man. Jermaine Clifford McClain was apprehended on multiple counts, including three charges of burglary of an unoccupied dwelling and two counts of grand theft, as reported by Local 10.
Police were first alerted to the incidents last Thursday, with the reported crimes occurring at The Grand Living assisted-living facility. According to the Coral Gables Police, they were able to quickly identify McClain through the collaborative use of "rideshare services, airport intelligence and City of Miami Police Department detectives." Some of the reported deceptive tactics included McClain claiming to be a maintenance worker, purportedly "to fix the lights" in the apartments he entered. A statement obtained by Local 10 provides details of McClain's interaction with one of the victims, who discovered him at the doorway to her apartment upon her return from a walk. After McClain's departure, she noticed her Rolex watch was missing.
The investigation into McClain's alleged activities extended beyond the initial incidents, with multiple other tenants reporting attempts to gain entry into their apartments. According to a report by NBC Miami, when confronted by a resident, McClain ignored the questioning and left the scene, later seen entering a vehicle. Officers obtained a picture of McClain's license plate from one of the tenants, which led to the identification of an Uber driver who had given McClain a ride.
Further information revealed by NBC Miami states that the Uber driver described McClain arriving with envelopes full of money, asking to be hired as a personal driver for the day. Surveillance videos from various locations including the assisted-living facility, and a hotel where McClain stayed, helped to corroborate these stories and ultimately led to the issuance of an arrest warrant after confirming his identity through records checks.
As of the latest updates, McClain is being held at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center. His bond had yet to be set, and authorities believe there may be additional victims. They are encouraging anyone with further information to come forward as they continue their investigation into the burglaries.
