CORAL GABLES, Fla. – A 27-year-old man was arrested Wednesday after police said he targeted elderly people in Coral Gables by burglarizing their apartments.
According to police, Jermaine Clifford McClain burglarized a series of apartment units last week at The Grand Living assisted living facility, located at 363 Granello Ave. They believe there may be other victims who have not yet come forward.
An arrest warrant states that officers responded to The Grand Living on Jan. 9 and met with the assisted living director who informed them that an unknown Black male had burglarized multiple apartment units before fleeing the area.
Ruth Carruthers, a resident at The Grand Living, said it’s common to leave their doors unlocked.
“Actually, I leave my door unlocked because my husband needs care around the clock, and they come and they go,” she said.
According to the warrant, one of the victims had gone out for a walk when she returned to her apartment unit to find McClain standing in the doorway as she opened the front door.
Police said McClain told her he was a maintenance worker who was there to fix the lights in her apartment.
But when the woman went to her bedroom after McClain left, she noticed that the lights were on and her drawers were open, authorities said.
She then noticed that her gold and silver Rolex watch was missing from the top of her nightstand.
Police said the victim pressed her emergency pendent to alert her caregivers about what had happened.
As the victim was waiting for help, another resident and two caregivers were entering another apartment unit when McClain opened the door from the inside and walked past them, pretending to talk on a cellphone, authorities said.
Police said one of the women repeatedly asked McClain who he was, but he ignored her before hopping onto the elevator and then leaving the building.
According to authorities, McClain fled the scene in a black Chevrolet SUV.
“The suspect in total took over $3,000 in cash and a Rolex watch,” said Natalie Flores, an officer with the Coral Gables Police Department.
Police said nothing appeared to have been taken from the second apartment unit.
Residents, like Carruthers, were surprised to learn about the break-ins and hope management will take steps to improve security.
“I didn’t know that we had that problem, but I will spread the word among my friends,” Carruthers said.
Detectives said they were able to identify McClain through “rideshare services, airport intelligence and City of Miami Police Department detectives.”
According to the arrest report, McClain is currently facing three counts of burglary of an unoccupied dwelling and two counts of grand theft.
Management of The Grand Living Facility declined to comment on security measures but said they are working with detectives to determine how McClain gained access to the building.
Police say McClain is linked to other occupied break-ins across the county and has an out-of-state warrant for his arrest.
Authorities believe he may be responsible for additional crimes and urge anyone who believes they are a victim to contact the Coral Gables Police Department at 305-442-1600.
As of Thursday evening, McClain was being held at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center where his bond had yet to be set.