Families living in North Miami Beach are on edge after dozens of burglaries have been reported in a matter of weeks.
The crime wave appears to be happening just four months after the city laid off 17 sworn officers in a budget-cutting move. According to police records, 20 home burglaries were reported in a two-week period.
Most of the crimes have happened in the middle of the day in areas west of Biscayne Boulevard, despite an abundance of warning signs from alarm companies. Jewelry, cash, laptop computers and other electronics have all been stolen from the homes.
Since the layoffs in September, the North Miami Beach Police Department has lost its community policing unit, a crime-suppression wing aimed at preventing various crimes.
The Department has also merged its gang unit and crime suppression team to pool resources because of a lighter staff.
"We've had too many robberies on this block, and they know everybody works," said Cheryl Meyers, a homeowner whose neighbors have been hit."They should be more aware."
One recent burglary on her block near Northeast 183rd Street and 20th Avenue turned into an armed robbery when a homeowner pulled into his driveway earlier than expected. The man was not hurt, but the thieves took his money, wallet and jewelry at gunpoint.
"It’s frightful," said Jim Meyers, Cheryl's husband. "What really concerned me more than anything this past time is somebody used a gun."
Detectives believe some of the break-ins are related, but they have not released a description of the thieves. Road patrol officers are being told to keep an extra eye out in problematic areas.
There are about 97 sworn officers still on the street in North Miami Beach. The city stands by its belief that the layoffs do not pose an increased safety risk to its residents.