A Cuban custodian working at Miami International Airport (MIA) has been arrested for stealing two Rolex watches from a passenger. Alberto Rabanal, a 57-year-old janitor, was taken into custody on Monday and charged with two counts of grand theft for stealing two Rolex watches valued at approximately $60,000 from a traveler.
The incident occurred on August 22. According to America TeVe, the victim had arrived at the airport from Lisbon, Portugal. After clearing customs, while waiting on the second level of Terminal J for a ride-share service, the victim left an unattended duty-free bag containing the watches.
Rabanal, who was employed by a company contracted for airport cleaning services, was captured by security cameras taking the bag. The footage showed him first removing a sweater and then a black case containing the Rolex watches from the bag. "Once he did this, he placed the sweater back in the bag and put the bag inside a regular trash bag before discarding it," the arrest report, cited by Local 10, describes.
Miami-Dade Police went to Rabanal's residence on the 1200 block of Northwest 103rd Street. He confessed to the theft and showed officers the watches, which were on his bedroom dresser. Rabanal was then arrested and taken to jail.
On Tuesday, he appeared before the criminal court, where he was given a $7,500 bond. By Wednesday afternoon, his name no longer appeared in the county jail records.
Details Surrounding the Miami Airport Rolex Theft
In light of the recent incident at Miami International Airport, we've compiled a list of frequently asked questions to provide more clarity on the situation.
Who is Alberto Rabanal?
Alberto Rabanal is a 57-year-old Cuban janitor who worked at Miami International Airport. He was arrested for stealing two Rolex watches from a passenger.
What were the circumstances of the theft?
The theft occurred on August 22, when a passenger left a duty-free bag containing two Rolex watches unattended in Terminal J. Rabanal was caught on security cameras taking the bag and removing the watches.
What charges were brought against Rabanal?
Rabanal was charged with two counts of grand theft for stealing the watches, which were valued at around $60,000.
What happened after Rabanal's arrest?
After his arrest, Rabanal appeared in court and was given a $7,500 bond. By the following afternoon, his name was no longer listed in the county jail records.