A Miami woman is facing felony charges after what started as an Instagram meet-up at a luxury Edgewater condo turned into a robbery, according to police.
Nicole Cano, 30, was arrested Monday after a man told officers he was robbed at her Paraiso Bayviews condominium on April 11. Investigators say Cano and two other women demanded money from the visitor, tugged on his chain and made off with a $300 gold cross pendant before he managed to slip away and yell for help. Miami-Dade records show she was booked on charges of strongarm robbery and false imprisonment.
In an arrest report, the victim said he had agreed to meet Cano for drinks and was checking out the view from the unit’s balcony when two other women walked out of a bedroom. The trio then began demanding cash, according to the report. The man told police the women blocked him from leaving and a struggle over his jewelry broke out, ending with the pendant ripped away during the scuffle, NBC 6 South Florida reported.
Miami police say the victim later picked Cano out of a photo lineup. According to Local 10, Cano agreed to speak with detectives and admitted she initiated the meeting but denied taking part in the robbery. The station identifies the building as Paraiso Bayviews at 501 NE 31st Street in Edgewater.
Charges and next steps
Cano has been charged with strongarm robbery and false imprisonment and was booked into Miami-Dade custody. A judge set her bond at $7,500, according to NBC 6 South Florida.
Social‑media meetups that turned criminal
The case is the latest local reminder that social-media hangouts can go sideways in a hurry. In December 2024, a Miami Beach meetup that also began on Instagram left a Gainesville man out more than $200,000 in jewelry, a crime described as a Gainesville man robbed of $200K in jewelry. Investigators have repeatedly warned about the risks of inviting strangers to private residences.
Anyone with information about the April 11 incident is asked to contact the Miami Police Department’s Robbery Unit at (305) 603-6370, per the department’s website. Tips can also be submitted anonymously to Miami‑Dade Crime Stoppers.
