Move over, Keystone Point.  Another affluent neighborhood can add an armed home invasion to North Miami’s growing list of violent crimes.

Last night, armed robbers broke into a home in North Miami’s historic waterfront community of Griffing Park Estates.  The victims were terrorized at gunpoint, and the suspects took off with their valuables.  Fortunately, no one was hurt.

Earlier yesterday, a nearby home was also broken into and property was stolen.  The suspects fled when confronted by the resident, who was inside the home at the time of the burglary.  It is unknown if the burglars were armed.

Earlier this month a woman was a victim of a robbery in the parking lot of her North Miami condominium, which was caught on camera.  Five teenagers sprayed her with mace, grabbed her purse and took off with her car.  They were caught and arrested the next day by Sunrise police when the mother of one of the suspects turned her in.

Contrary to Police Chief Leonard Burgess’ claim that it’s “Crime Index is the same as the City of Aventura,” the City of North Miami is the second most dangerous city in Miami-Dade County.

But, don’t believe me.  Check out the actual 2014 crime stats for yourself from the FBI website.  (The statistics for 2015 won’t be available until September.)

And these are just the statistics for violent crimes.

Not included on this list are the non-violent crimes, such as the recent spate of car break-ins that have been reported by outraged Keystone Point residents.  Still traumatized by last year’s armed home invasion, which crime has yet to be solved, they are understandably upset by the crime wave taking place in their neighborhood.

Sorry, Chief Lenny.  No matter how you try to spin it, North Miami is not Aventura.

Stephanie Kienzle
“Spreading the Wealth”