A man named Yoel Ojeda, 46, was arrested in Miami Beach on Tuesday for stealing mail from residents in search of drugs, credit cards, and blank checks. He is accused of burglary, criminal mischief, possessing personal identification information of five or more persons, and petit theft.
Residents reported to NBC6 that Ojeda was seen breaking into a Miami Beach building twice, stealing people’s mail. He used a crowbar to pry open mailbox doors and put the contents in a bag. Police stated that he targeted multiple buildings and caused significant damages.
Upon his arrest, Ojeda confessed to breaking into mailboxes to look for drugs. He admitted to using stolen credit cards to buy food, clothing, and gas and writing checks to himself when found in the mail. He had multiple credit cards and an ID card that did not belong to him when apprehended.
Furthermore, Ojeda revealed that he drove his Infinity to the beach to commit these crimes and is currently out on bond in Broward County for similar offenses, including fraud. This is not the first time he has been involved in mail theft incidents, as he was accused of another theft in January, causing approximately $5,000 in damages.
Residents of the affected buildings expressed their concerns and feelings of vulnerability and violation. Mark, a longtime resident of the West Avenue building, suspected that Ojeda had premeditated the thefts and targeted the area deliberately. Rosie Ciavolino, another resident, emphasized the need for increased alertness among neighbors.
The arrest of Yoel Ojeda sheds light on the importance of safeguarding personal information and being vigilant about suspicious activities. Residents are urged to report any unusual incidents to the authorities to prevent such crimes in the future. It is essential to secure mailboxes and take necessary precautions to avoid falling victim to identity theft and other criminal activities.
