Burglars ransack several homes in one community

MIAMI SHORES, Fla. (WSVN) -- A community has experienced a rash of robberies over the summer and a Seven News colleague became the latest victim.

Seven's Charles Billi is one of the four victims whose home has been robbed. "I didn't think I would be quite as shaken as I am," said Billi. "Just to feel that somebody was in my home is creepy."

Saturday night while Billi delivered the news, thieves ransacked his Miami Shores home. The robbers took off with his DVD collection, watches, and they tried taking off with his flat screen TV but were spotted and fled without it.

Billi says other media broadcasters in the community are afraid their homes are next. "You know that there are a lot of media people who live in the Shores," said Billi. "I've spoke with a few of them since this has happened, and they are afraid that they too will be targeted based on their on-air schedule. For us, that's frightening. This is a new twist on crime. One that I have not seen in the 10 years that I've been here, and I hope they can stop it."

Miami Shores Police have set up a burglary task force, even though they stress that burglaries have decreased. "It's a great concern to us," said Chief Kevin Lystad of Miami Shores Police. "We don't like to see any burglaries. As far as statistically, we're right on track as far as our numbers were last year. We ended the year with a 33 percent decrease in burglaries, but from our standpoint, any burglaries are unacceptable."

Here is a list of the burglaries that occurred in the Miami Shores area from May until late July:

• May 17 -- 1100 Block NE 97th Street
• June 21 -- 100 Block NW 100 Terrace
• June 30 -- 100 Block NW 95th Street
• July 2 -- 100 Block NW 97th Street
• July 23 -- 100 Block NW 94th Street

If you have any information regarding the robberies or thieves, call Miami Shores Police. You can also call Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at 305-471-TIPS where you can always remain anonymous, and you may be eligible for a reward.

(Copyright 2007 by The Sunbeam Television Corp. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)