A Cuban national has been apprehended following a string of armed robberies at various locations throughout Miami. Police were able to track him down by tracing a stolen cellphone from one of the incidents. Upon capture, the suspect admitted to committing the crimes.
The crime wave initiated in the early hours of Monday, when the suspect, identified as 46-year-old Carlos Orlando Sainz, threatened a CVS store employee in Downtown Miami with a knife during his first robbery. Over the next 24 hours, Sainz carried out several similar offenses across different parts of the city.
Wave of Robberies Shakes Miami
Speaking to Telemundo 51, Manuel Morales, Miami Police Department Chief, confirmed that the suspect was involved in "four incidents within approximately 24 hours." One of these occurred later that night, when the assailant stole an electric scooter on Northeast 17th Street in Edgewater, again threatening the victim with a knife.
Sainz then rode the scooter to a Walgreens in Brickell, where he intimidated staff with the same weapon and stole $135. Two eyewitnesses managed to intervene, disarming him and retrieving the cash register.
Key Arrest Thanks to Stolen Phone
The crime spree extended into the morning of November 19, when the suspect assaulted a woman on Northeast 29th Street and 180th Avenue, snatching her purse and cellphone. This last robbery proved crucial for his arrest, as detectives were able to trace the phone's location and apprehend Sainz.
"This arrest sends a clear message to the criminal element: if you come to the city of Miami to target our residents or visitors, we will identify and arrest you," Morales concluded.