House Burglarized While Being Tented

MIAMI -- Two men wearing no protective gear were caught on surveillance video burglarizing a home that was tented and undergoing fumigation for termites.

The Miami-Dade Police Department said the home was covered with a tent while it was being fumigated for termites in May. The resident, Jorge Estevez had set up a surveillance camera that he could check from any computer while he was away from home.

The man told police that he work up around 2:00 A.M. and checked his surveillance system when he saw the recorded footage of two men burglarizing his home one hour and a half hours earlier. Estevez said "The thieves were taking their time while stealing my office equipment. They had all the time in the world, no worries about being poisoned."

Police went to the house but did not find any suspects. The thieves got away with computer equipment, tools, and jewelry worth thousands of dollars.

Police said the burglars cut through the fumigation tent and broke into the house through a window.
Estevez said he is convinced that workers never put chemicals inside his home to fumigate. Investigators are working to determine if the burglary might have been an inside job, which has yet to be determined.

Al-Flex Exterminators, the company that performed the fumigation, said it was not. "At least the faces that we saw on the video, I have no idea who they are," said Alex Napoles, president of Al-Flex Exterminators. "They appear to be Hispanic males. It's really hard to tell."

Napoles said his company is not responsible for the theft. He said the contracts advise customers to hire security during fumigation.

UPDATE:  Three men have been arrested in connection with this case thanks to the excellent video surveillance video and the efforts of STG and the MDPD. Although the men are not employees of the fumigation company one of the suspects arrested did state according to dectectives "The house was left ready for us." Investigator say more arrest to follow.  Anyone with any information is asked to contact the MDPD or Crimestoppers.