With the start of the holiday shopping season, Miami-Dade authorities reinforced a comprehensive security operation this Friday to prevent thieves from turning Black Friday and Christmas into a nightmare for thousands of families, including the large Cuban community in South Florida, who take advantage of this time of year to send gifts and aid to their loved ones.
County Sheriff Rosie Cordero-Stutz launched the “Grinch Busters” campaign at the Dadeland Mall, which includes an increased number of uniformed and undercover officers patrolling shopping centers, parking lots, and residential areas.
“Stay alert, don’t get distracted by your phone or looking for your keys, and keep bags and gifts out of sight,” she warned.
The operation also responds to recent incidents. Following a violent robbery at Dolphin Mall earlier this month, Sweetwater police set up a mobile station at the mall. There, Officer Orlando Fleites explained that officers are looking for signs of suspicious behavior, such as people loitering among cars or sitting in a vehicle for an extended period.
His warning to shoppers was clear: don’t let your guard down. “Someone could be following you,” he cautioned.
Adding to this concern are new criminal tactics reported by the Secret Service, which warned of scammers calling, texting, or emailing while impersonating stores or banks to obtain personal information or payments.
In a recent case, criminals tricked a man into withdrawing nearly $60,000, believing he was protecting his money, according to documents cited by local media.
The “Grinch Hunters” are a security operation implemented by Miami-Dade authorities. This operation aims to prevent robberies during the holiday shopping season, especially on Black Friday and Christmas Day. It includes an increase in uniformed and undercover agents monitoring shopping malls, parking lots, and residential areas.
