A watch sale meet-up in Northwest Miami turned into a full-blown robbery search on Tuesday, after police say a supposed buyer pulled a knife, grabbed the goods and took off.
Officers swarmed the area near Northwest 31st Street and Third Avenue, set up a perimeter and moved in with K-9 units and long-gun teams as they went door to door through nearby apartment buildings. A school in the vicinity was briefly placed on lockdown while officers swept the neighborhood. No injuries were reported, and the perimeter was taken down later in the afternoon.
According to WSVN, detectives said the seller met with a prospective buyer who pulled out a knife during the transaction, snatched the watch and ran. 7News cameras captured officers checking an apartment building and walking the streets as the search for the suspect unfolded. As of late Tuesday, it was still unclear whether anyone had been taken into custody.
How To Stay Safe When Meeting Buyers
Deals arranged online can turn sketchy fast once they move into the real world. The Federal Trade Commission advises shoppers and sellers to keep detailed records of purchases, use payment methods that can be traced and be extra cautious when meeting strangers in person, per the FTC.
Many local police departments also urge people to meet in well-lit public places or at designated "safe exchange" zones at police stations, a practice highlighted in recent advisories such as a Murfreesboro report.
Other Watch Thefts This Month
This is not the only big-ticket timepiece to make a run for it in April. Earlier this month, deputies say a suspect bolted from a Village Flea Market booth with a $39,500 watch on April 13 and was later arrested, according to Local 10. That case is one reason detectives are again urging anyone with dashcam or cellphone video from Tuesday's search area to come forward.
How To Report Tips
Detectives ask anyone with information about the robbery to contact the Miami Police Department Robbery Unit at (305) 603-6370 or Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at (305) 471-TIPS.
Investigators say anyone who has video or photos from the scene should preserve the original files and note timestamps and precise location details before sharing them with police, to make the footage as useful as possible for the case.
