Coral Gables Police Makes Arrests In Car Theft Ring

Coral Gables Police Department released the following:

On Sunday, December 20, 2020 at 11:13 a.m., a black BMW 5 series was observed driving into the community of Gables Estates. An unknown Black, Male subject from the BMW entered onto the property through an unlocked gate on Arvida Parkway and then entered an unlocked 2018 black Range Rover. The subject proceeded to steal the Range Rover utilizing the key fob that was left inside the vehicle. The subject utilized the gate remote to open the gate to flee. The gate did not open entirely and was forcibly opened by the subject. Once open, the subject fled from the scene with the stolen Range Rover. The vehicle was recovered in Lauderhill on December 21, 2020.

On Monday, December 21, 2020 at 2:06 am, officers were dispatched to the area of Old Cutler Bay. An alert security guard observed a Mercedes Benz, that matched the description of a vehicle that was linked to several vehicle burglaries, enter the community. The driver of the Mercedes spotted the marked police vehicle and quickly left the area crashing through the exit gate of Old Cutler Bay. The vehicle then crashed into a street sign at the 400 block of Daroco Avenue. Three subjects fled on foot from the vehicle and a perimeter was established. One juvenile offender, age 16 from Ft. Lauderdale, was located shortly after, hiding along the side of a house trying to conceal himself. The juvenile subject was taken into custody and advised officers he was not the driver of the Mercedes.

Responding police units observed a Gray Infiniti Q50 circling the perimeter, driving above the posted speed limit with dark tinted windows and advised additional officers that the vehicle was headed to a perimeter point. Officers stopped the vehicle in the 6300 block of Maggiore Street. As officers ordered the subject to place the vehicle in park, the subject attempted to reach into the back seat for something and the officers took the driver out of the vehicle and placed him into custody. An inventory search of the vehicle produced a Glock 9 mm and additional gun magazines. The subject was later identified as Chadrick Devonte Jones, DOB 10/09/1998, LKA 1471 NW 32 Avenue, Ft. Lauderdale. He was charged with improper open carrying a concealed firearm and failure to obey a police officer and transported to TGK.

At 4:22 a.m. a red 2004 Ford Taurus in the 5200 block of Riviera Drive was observed suspiciously and a traffic stop was conducted. The driver, later identified as Danita Dakia Greene, DOB 05/13/1977, LKA 2849 NW 9th Place, Ft Lauderdale, was operating with a known suspended driver license. She advised she was there to pick up her juvenile son, who was sitting in the right front passenger seat of the Taurus.

While on a perimeter point, officers observed a person matching the passenger of Ms. Green (her son), flee from Hardee Road. Ms. Green was arrested and charged with driving with a suspended license and possession of drug paraphernalia and transported to TGK. Her juvenile son, age 17, was also taken into custody.

Both juveniles were charged with Loitering and Prowling and Resisting without Violence and transported to the Juvenile Assessment Center.

“We ask the public that if they see something, they say something, and today it was successful,” said Coral Gables Police Chief Edward J. Hudak Jr. “We commend the Old Cutler Bay security guard for their awareness. Their action helped bring several people into custody. We also remind everyone to remove All Key Fobs from their vehicles when they are not operating them and keep them secure outside of the vehicle. It is also highly recommended that owners of newer modeled vehicles should have the manufacturer install GPS as recovery is based upon how quickly they can be located before tracking devices are disabled.”

Coral Gables Detectives in conjunction with other agencies continue to investigate theft of high-end motor vehicles. Additional arrests/charges are forthcoming.