MIAMI – Fernando Yanes is among the victims who reported meeting a vandal claiming to be doing a good deed in Miami-Dade County.
A man fitting the same description has been knocking on doors from Kendall to Coral Gables asking for donations to help needy kids play soccer.
“He showed me some papers and a T-shirt,” Yanes said. “And he told me, ”Hey, I’m a coach, I’m a neighbor, so I’m raising money for this soccer team.’”
Yanes said something felt off; the man’s claim did not feel trustworthy. He said he responded, “I’m sorry; I have my kids with me. It’s going to have to be another time.”
Yanes said that when he found a large scratch mark on his car after having just washed it that morning he knew right away who had done it.
Henry Torres, another Miami-Dade resident, said he had a similar experience with the same man, and he decided to report it to police.
Victims provided surveillance videos and there was a flier with the man’s image identifying him as a representative of a soccer charity for children.
Detectives asked anyone with information about this or other cases to call Miami-Dade County Crime Stoppers at 305-471-8477 to remain anonymous.