VIDEO: Crooks clean out cell phone store in seconds
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. - Thirty seconds is all it took for a band of burglars to ransack rows of cases containing expensive smart phone and tablets at one Miami Gardens, Fla. cell phone store, reports CBS Miami.
The heist happened in the early morning on Thursday July 24 at the Unlocking Wireless Solutions store.
"They definitely came prepared. They wore gloves, and unfortunately the cops got here 2 to 3 minutes after they already left," store owner Gilberto Maakaroun said, according to the station.
Maakaroun was home watching TV when the security company called to tell him the alarm at his shop had been triggered.
When he arrived at the store, he found the front door shattered and much of his inventory cleaned out, reports the station.
"We came to realize it was about 30 to 40 thousand dollars worth of phones. About 60 or 70 devices, including phones and tablets," Maakaroun told the station.
Security video of the theft shows what appear to be four young men quickly swiping device after device.
At least one guy wore gloves and the others covered their heads with hoodies and a skull cap.
Thirty seconds into the heist, they all scurried out the same way they came, leaving behind bent locks and empty display cases.
Now that he's cleaned up the mess, and restocked his store, Maakaroun said he's not dwelling on the misfortune. He's been in business for about 3-and-a-half years and doesn't plan on closing up shop anytime soon, reports the station.
"It's going to take us a few months probably to recover but this is not going to slow us down. We're definitely going to be in business still for a long time. This is just going to make us stronger from now on," Maakaroun said.
The owner said that, unfortunately, his insurance doesn't cover burglaries, so he won't be reimbursed for all the stolen merchandise.
He brought in some phones from his other store location to fill the void.
If you recognize the people in the video, call Miami-Dade Crimestoppers at 305-471-TIPS.