Ongoing ATV-Riding Thieves Plague Northwest Miami-Dade Businesses
NORTHWEST MIAMI-DADE, FLA. — A wave of thefts by ATV-riding, fence-hopping criminals has left residents and business owners in Northwest Miami-Dade frustrated and concerned for their safety. The recurring incidents, which have spanned the summer months, have particularly targeted marinas and businesses along Northwest South River Drive.
One of the affected business owners, Felix Mari, described the thieves as professionals who are well-versed in their criminal activities. “That’s all they do all night long. That’s their specialty. They know exactly what to do and how to do it, and it just takes seconds,” Mari said. The thieves, often masked and riding ATVs, have been seen hopping fences and breaking into properties, stealing valuable items in minutes.
The Miami International Marina was one of the most recent targets. Surveillance footage obtained exclusively by 7News shows the thieves scaling a barbed wire fence and making their way onto boats, where they have stolen expensive navigation equipment. “Climbing right there. You see him climbing?” Mari said as he pointed out the footage. “After that, he jumps directly onto the boat.”
Mari reported that the thieves took a GPS device from one of the boats. “Here’s the GPS that they stole, and you can see how they cut the wires,” he explained. The stolen equipment is not only valuable, with devices like the Garmin navigation tool fetching up to $5,000 on the market, but also essential for the business operations of the affected owners.
Pro Blue Marine, another business targeted by the thieves, has also suffered significant losses. Cpt. Alexis Perez, who runs the business, expressed his frustration: “Multiple occasions, all the other marinas, I’ve been hit more than once. It hurts our business.” Perez reported losing fishing poles, navigation equipment, and other valuable items to the thieves.
Vincent Sedeno, who operates Boat Cradles Unlimited near the marina, shared similar experiences. “Yeah, whatever’s easiest to grab,” Sedeno said, describing how the thieves have repeatedly stolen tools and damaged vessels on his property. He explained how they work quickly, disconnecting wiring and cutting cables to remove equipment from boats.
Despite numerous calls to the police, the thieves continue to evade capture, often fleeing the scene on their ATVs before authorities arrive. In one incident, employees of Pro Blue Marine tried to chase down the burglars, but the criminals managed to escape, shouting “Go, go, go, go, go!” as they sped away into the night.
Adding to the concern, one of the burglars caught on camera appears to return to the area repeatedly, even after being arrested. This has left residents and business owners worried about what might happen if they encounter these criminals face-to-face. “That’s the danger we want to prevent. You encounter one of these people and you don’t know if they have a gun,” Mari said.
In response to the ongoing thefts, local business owners have banded together to offer an $8,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of the thieves. Authorities are urging anyone with information to contact Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at 305-471-TIPS. Tips can be made anonymously, and individuals providing valuable information may be eligible for a reward of up to $5,000.
As the community grapples with the continued threat, residents and business owners alike are calling for increased law enforcement presence and better security measures to protect their livelihoods and ensure that the thieves are brought to justice.
