--- title: "Burglaries at Oak Wood Condominium" type: "pdf" year: "2002" canonical: "/projects/824" --- # Herman Goldstein Award Nomination # Table of Contents - [Herman Goldstein Award Nomination](#herman-goldstein-award-nomination) - [1. Summary](#1-summary) - [Burglaries at Oak Wood Condominium](#burglaries-at-oak-wood-condominium) - [Herman Goldstein Award](#herman-goldstein-award) - [2. Description](#2-description) - [Burglaries at Oak Wood Condominiums](#burglaries-at-oak-wood-condominiums) - [Herman Goldstein Award](#herman-goldstein-award) - [3. Reference List](#3-reference-list) - [Burglaries at Oak Wood Condominiums](#burglaries-at-oak-wood-condominiums) - [Herman Goldstein Award](#herman-goldstein-award) - [4. Agency and Officer Information](#4-agency-and-officer-information) - [Burglaries at Oak Wood Condominium](#burglaries-at-oak-wood-condominium) - [Burglaries at Oak Wood Condominiums](#burglaries-at-oak-wood-condominiums) - [R&B Security Monthly Recap](#rb-security-monthly-recap) ## 1. Summary ## Burglaries at Oak Wood Condominium During the months of March and April, Oak Wood Condominium complex, located at 1111 Brickell Bay Drive, experienced several burglaries to the location, two (2) reported incidents and ten (10) unreported incidents during a two (2) month period. No signs of forced entry were found and fingerprints could not be obtained from the crime scenes. Neighborhood Resource Officers Jeffery Giordano and Carlos Balasino met with management and security personnel at the building and working together they implemented the following security measures: - Crime Watch Program. - Security Survey - Security guard training - Monthly security meetings After exploring many possibilities and interviewing residents and employees of the complex, the officers gained a suspicion for the maintenance supervisor, Miguel Agudelo. The officers then ran a check on the individual and found that no warrants had been issued. They then took it one step further and pulled this individuals personnel file at which time they noticed a green card copy on file and called Boarder Patrol to run a check on the number. The number came back to a gentleman from China. Further investigation revealed that the subject was a deported alien from Columbia. Officers Giordano and Balasino quickly contacted Immigration and Naturalization. Services., who sent agents to the location and apprehended this subject. Since that time the burglaries at this location have stopped. These officers investigative skills and tactical maneuvers proved to be very beneficial not only to the residents of this complex but the entire community. This is not an isolated incident for these officers, and it is only through the dedication and commitment of officers like Officer Jeffrey Giordano and Officer Carlos Balasino that we can continue to make this area a safe place for people to live and work. # Herman Goldstein Award ## 2. Description ## Burglaries at Oak Wood Condominiums Officers Jeffrey Giordano and Carlos BaIasino, work out of the Brickell/Coral Way Neighborhood Enhancement Team (NET) Office as Neighborhood Resource Officers. The Brickell/Coral Way NET office is one of thirteen service centers established throughout Miami's neighborhoods to insure that better and more efficient services are available to residents. NET brings government closer to the people and confronting Miami's crime problem through community policing is just one of NET's goals. The NET team works together with the various departments throughout the city to coordinate resources and resolve problems. With teamwork, the solutions are quick and effective, with fewer delays and red-tape. During the months of March and April 2001, the Oak Wood Condominium building, located at 1111 Brickell Bay Drive, began experiencing burglaries to several of its condominium units. In each incident there were no signs of forced entry. Two (2) documented cases were reported to the Miami Police Department during this period. Officer Giordano first identified the problem at Oak Wood Condominiums while reviewing the monthly crime analysis report for the area. Upon noticing a pattern he immediately scheduled a meeting with Mr. James Valdes, Security Director of Oak Wood Condominiums. During the meeting the complex records revealed internal reports of a total often (10) additional break-ins to apartments and four (4) automobile break-ins that had not been reported to the police department. After returning to his office, Officer Giordano went over the details of the meeting and the police and building reports with Officer Balasino. Upon reviewing the records these officers immediately began discussing the situation and scheduled another meeting with the security director to discuss immediate steps that could be taken by both management and tenants to improve security. Over thirty (30) residents were in attendance and were informed of the problems in the building. Several residents advised the officers during the meeting that they had items missing from their apartments, such as watches, cufflinks, etc., but never thought that their apartment may have been entered, as there were no signs of forced entry. One resident reported her curtains were closed and she had remembered leaving them open. Another resident reported an incident where he had encountered the maintenance man on his floor that asked him how the Steelers football team was doing this year, the resident became suspicious because he had never told the maintenance man he was a Steelers fan but he did have a Steelers banner in his closet. This appeared to be an internal job and immediately a couple of the residents fell under suspicion. One was the maintenance supervisor who lived in the building and had access to master keys to all the units. Although the officers suspected that this was an inside job, there was still a chance that it was not, so they made some suggestions to both management and the tenants in an effort to make their building a safer place to live. Some of the suggestions were that tenants make sure that their homeowners or renters insurance was up to date and that all of their property was properly inventoried. Tenants were informed to stay alert to suspicious looking couriers in the building delivering packages to either them or their neighbors, to ask for photo I.D.'s from service or delivery people before letting them in the door and not to be afraid to call the company to verify their identity if they are not sure. Tenants were told to consider home alarm systems that provide emergency monitoring for burglary, fire and medical emergencies. The officers conducted a security training class in traditional police procedures for the security guards employed at the complex. Since these security officers actions or inactions, can dramatically affect the disposition of an incident, this training played a very important role in providing security for the complex. If these officers first response destroys evidence, impedes the investigation or otherwise interferes in the successful apprehension and prosecution of a perpetrator, everyone loses. Inexperienced personnel just make things more confusing. Special emphasis was placed on increasing mobile patrol in the complex. The officers set up a "Crime Watch" program for the building. Citizen patrols were scheduled to walk around the complex, paying special attention to parking lots, stairways and playgrounds, and alert police to crime and suspicious activities. They were asked to check the complex on a regular basis for such problems as burned-out lights, dark corridors, broken locks on mailboxes and doors and to report these problems immediately to management. Residents were also advised that sometimes publishing a newsletter that gives local crime news, recognizes Apartment Watch Captains and highlights community activities also helps to keep tenants informed and interested. During this meeting a date was also scheduled for Officers Giordano and Balasino to perform a security survey of the entire building and report back to management with their findings. The officers checked such things as who has control over who enters and leaves the building. They checked walkways, entrances, parking areas, elevators, hallways stairways and storage areas to be sure they were well lit 24 hours a day, they checked the fire stairs to be sure that they were locked from the stairwell side above the ground floor so that tenants could exit but no one could enter. They also checked to make sure that security measures were well maintained, burnt out lights were fixed promptly, shrubs were trimmed and trash was removed regularly. Some of the suggestions made by Officer's Giordano and Balasino included the following: 1. Barriers be installed on the $2^{\text {nd }}$ floor to prevent entry into the garage. (Management budgeted for a metal bar fence to be installed at this location. The fencing was installed in May). 2. Additional lighting in the rear of the property. 3. Exterior doors to the parking garage be replaced to prevent persons from entering into the garage, with doors that only allow exiting. (Management budgeted for and has replaced these doors). 4. The officers will conduct a monthly security meeting in an effort to keep informed on what is happening in the complex and continue to make recommendations when necessary. After meeting with management and tenants, and performing a security survey, Officers Giordano and Balasino proceeded to check the work orders submitted by tenants for repairs to their units, which showed that during the reported times of the break-ins, the maintenance man was working on several of the floors that the break-ins had occurred. The officers then called in a Crime Scene Investigation Team to check out the properties, however, these investigations of the properties did not provide any prints of value. Since the officers still suspected that the break-ins were internal, they immediately set up interviews with valet, maintenance and security personnel. Over ten (10) people were interviewed, no information was received and no confessions were obtained. The day after the interviews took place; three (3) residents called security and reported that they were unable to gain entry into their apartments. It appeared that a small piece of metal was broken off inside the locks. The locks were then changed by security. Officers Giordano and Balasino took the locks to a local locksmith (Coral Way Locksmith's) where the locks were dissected. The small piece of metal broken off inside the locks appeared to be a lock-picking device. The locksmith advised the officers that if the same thief had picked the other apartments he would not have had trouble gaining entry into these apartments. It appeared that the pieces of metal that were broken off into the lock were done in an effort to throw off the police investigation. The officers then ran a complete background check on the building maintenance supervisor, Miguel Agudelo, who was from Columbia, and whom they were becoming more suspicious of. Mr. Agudelo had a previous drug charge from New York, but did not have any outstanding warrants, it did however reveal that he was an illegal alien. The officers then pulled out the employment folder of the suspect, which contained a copy of his green card. They ran the number on the green card with Border Patrol and the card number came back to a Chinese man. The Border Patrol advised that they were short on manpower and would take approximately two weeks to respond. The officers then called Immigration and Naturalization Services (INS), who immediately responded. The officers took the suspect to a vacant apartment to question him until the arrival of INS agents. The suspect consented to a search his apartment prior to INS arrival. INS agents arrested the suspect who had entered the United States with a falsified green card and the suspect will do a minimum of twenty (20) years or be deported back to Colombia. Miami Police Burglary Units responded and assisted in a search of the suspect's apartment. Large amounts of jewelry and watches were obtained but were not able to be matched up with the documented items from the victims. Although there was not enough evidence to follow up on the cases; these officers took the extra steps necessary to solve the problem. This was achieved by following the S.A.R.A. model. Since Mr. Agudelo was deported in May, the condominium building has reported to the police department that no further incidents have occurred. # Herman Goldstein Award ## 3. Reference List ## Burglaries at Oak Wood Condominiums 1. Problem Oriented Policing; Herman Goldstein 2. Problem Solving, Problem-Oriented Policing in Newport News; U.S. Department of Justice # Herman Goldstein Award ## 4. Agency and Officer Information ## Burglaries at Oak Wood Condominium 1. This problem was-solving initiative was adopted by two select officers with the assistance of several internal and external agencies. 2. These two officers have received training in problem-oriented and problem solving policing during their training as Neighborhood Resource Officers for the City of Miami's Neighborhood Enhancement Team Program (N.E.T.). 3. No additional incentives were given to these officers. 4. Resources and guidelines used were their training as Resource Officers, and manuals given to them during this training. 1 Problem-Oriented Policing; Herman Goldstein 2. Problem Solving Problem-Oriented Policing in Newport News; U.S. Department of Justice 5. No issues or problems were reported. Agency and Officer Information (continued) # Burglaries at Oak Wood Condominiums 6. Personnel committed to this project included the City of Miami's Crime Scene Investigation Unit and it's Burglary Unit. 7. a. Officer Jeffrey Giordano a. Officer Carlos Balasino b. Neighborhood Resource Officer b. Neighborhood Resource Officer c. 1300 S. W. $12^{\text {th }}$ Avenue c. 1300 S.W. $12^{\text {th }}$ Avenue d. Miami, Florida 33129 d. Miami, Florida 33129 e. (305) 859-2701 e. (305) 859-2701 f. (305) 859-2703 f. (305) 859-2703 # R&B Security Monthly Recap Oakwood Miami October 2000 | | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Total | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Residential Burglary | 0 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | | Burg/Theft From Vehicle | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | | Grand Theft Auto | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | Robbery | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | Sex Crime | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | Theft | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | | Trespass (Arrest Only) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | Vandalism | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | | Other Reports | 2 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 8 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 32 | | Total Reports | 2 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 1 | 6 | 10 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 42 | | Field Interviews | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | Citations | 65 | 78 | 49 | 98 | 84 | 115 | 35 | 61 | 72 | 112 | 89 | 112 | 970 | | Impounds | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 6 | Property Notes | Sunday Brunch Date | NIA | | --- | --- | | 1911 System Test Dates | NIA | | Courtesy Phone Test Dates | 12/2 | | Attended Leasing Meeting On | 12/14 | | Number Of Move In's | 19 | | Number Of Resident Contacts | | | Last Security Meeting Date | 12/8 | | Next Security Meeting Date | 1115 | Prepared by: James Valdes Date: January 1, 2002