This is a compelling post.
You should go get a cup of coffee, or a beer, and come back and settle in!
Last year, burglaries were rampant in the City of Fort Lauderdale. Though the whole city had a serious problem, the areas off 13th Street/Andrews Ave./ Sunrise Boulevard were completely out of control!
Five adjacent neighborhoods there had an amazing 859 residential and car burglaries in 2013. The neighborhoods continually complained to City Hall and the FLPD, but the Police were adamant that much of the problem was due to juvenile burglars that were sent through the proverbial revolving door – straight back into the community, again and again – to burgle again. – again and again!
So, I submitted a public records request of all juvenile burglary cases in that area for 2013, and amazingly, I got back a thick stack of Juvenile Burglary records, and the 45 cases tend to back up the Police –
………….. this is that story!
Case #1
Defendant :Marc ______ Race/Sex B/M
Age : 15
Father : no info
Mother : Marie
School : Grade 10 – Fort Lauderdale High School
…… The defendant made entry by busting out a rear window. Defendant was arrested for another burglary and wanted to confess to this burglarie and others. He stated that he was the lookout on the other burglary, and that “Ryan” used a screwdriver and paid him $50 for helping….. Marc advised he had done four burglaries in all.
Detectives drove Marc around for him to point out the four burglaries. At the first house he stated that he broke in but “didn’t take anything because they did not have anything”. He took detectives to another house and stated that he broke in there ” and stole jewelry”.
Case #2
Defendant: Alan ______ Race/Sex B/M
Age : 15
Father : no info
Mother : Elaine
School : Mavericks
Police were called to North Side Elementary where, in a burglary the night before, a total of 16 Apple I Books were stolen. Total loss estimated at $22,000.
It appeared culprits pried window open …checked the school video, but monitors were not working……. Prints were lifted…. had a positive match with defendant ….Defendant implicated himself in the burglary.
Case #3
Defendant: Kenerve ______ Race/Sex B/M
Age: 15
Father : No info
Mother: Ketely
While working K-9, I responded to a foot pursuit of a burglary suspect …the felon fled eastbound through a day care playground …. defendant jumped fence …I advised I was K-9 and that he was under arrest, and he complied to my command.
Case #4
The culprits crawled through the doggie- door. They then broke window into a locked bedroom door. …. stole laptop ….. A spot of blood was recovered under the broken window and sent for DNA identification. Juveniles arrested….
Case # 5
Defendant: Chris _____ and Mike _______ Race/Sex B/M
Ages: 16
School: Lauderdale Lakes Middle School
Upon arrival, Officers met with Fred, who stated he witnessed two black males carrying a 55 inch TV set from a home on NE 1 Ave. Suspects hid TV in an alley. Officers saw suspects approach the hidden TV and say “You man, it’s still here, it’s still h
ere”. Defendants arrested.
Case # 6
Defendant: “Mook” ______ Race/Sex B/M
Age : 16
Father: no info
Mother: Shante
School : Lauderhill Middle School
Officer made contact with “Mook” who appeared to be of school age but was not in school. Defendant seemed to be “scouting” home for possible burglaries in an area that has had several burglaries. I observed defendant reaching his hands under his sweatshirt hoodie. I retrieved a screwdriver and a window punch.
Defendant admitted he was on “burglary probation”, and stated that he was going to “do a lick, but did not”. Defendant said he had a pain in his arm and was taken to Broward General Hospital for clearance. He began to speak very loud and called the Officers “crackers”.
When the suspect was uncuffed, he attempted to punch detective and escape. Officer tackled the suspect and suspect injured his face and broke a tooth. Suspect made violent threats, pointed his finger pretending to shoot us, and stated “I’m going to kill you”, then flicked us off and said “fuck you”.
Case # 7
….. juvenile culprits broke through a rear window that was unlocked … victim was inside the residence and scared the burglars away…. video shows 4 black males entering through the window and out the front door…
Case #8
Defendant: Devante ______ Race/Sex B/M
Age: 17
Officers responded to a burglary call when victim stated that when he opened the door to get his roommate’s wheelchair he noticed the house had been trashed. Victim noticed a B/M appear from the side yard of the house and head northward. The home had drawers and cabinets rummaged and emptied onto the beds.
Victim stated that he sells peanuts and keeps cash in the house. Latent prints taken at the scene identified juvenile suspects.
Case # 9
Defendant: Xzavier ______ Race/Sex B/M
Age : 12
Father : Xavier
Mother: Jamine
School: Thurgood Marshall Elementary
Ginell further stated that she left her front window open while she was in the shower, and she locks it when she leaves the home, so the culprit must have entered while she was in the shower.
Case #10
Defendant: Devon_____ Race/Sex B/M
Age: 14
Father : Unknown
Mother: April
School: Maverick High School
While working as a Truancy Officer, Ofc. Cranmer and I observed three black males of school age … Ofc. Cranmer and I attempted to go out with the males but they fled…. Ofc. Cranmer radioed for more officers …. I was able to order Devon to the ground and I asked “why are you running?”, and he stated “I’m on probation on a robbery”…. I placed Devon in the patrol car and he uttered ” Is this because of the burglary I did?” …. I asked ” where is the burglary located?”, and he stated “back behind Fort Lauderdale High School, I don’t know where, but I can take you there”…..
…. we need changes ….. more later ! …. Tim
Author: 
Assistant State Attorney Maria Schneider told me today that new rules for these juveniles are being processed and are expected to be unveiled “in days”.