MIAMI BEACH, FLA. – A Miami Beach man is sharing his harrowing experience after armed thieves stole his Mercedes G-Wagon from his driveway. The incident occurred on March 5th in what he described as a normally safe neighborhood.
“A car pulls up in the evening and a guy in a hoodie from the back jumps out really, really quickly. Next thing you know my car’s gone,” said the victim, who requested anonymity for security reasons.
Security footage of the heist shows the theft happening in approximately one minute. “These guys weren’t playing games,” he stated. “It’s terrifying. It’s damn terrifying.”
The victim emphasized the severity of the situation, noting the high level of weaponry involved. “With heavy ammo, these guys could’ve put a bunch of bullet holes through my body, and my kids wouldn’t have a father,” he said.
Following the theft, police reported that the suspects were armed with guns and a significant amount of ammunition. Within a day, Miami Beach and Fort Lauderdale Police collaborated to apprehend three individuals near Southwest 18th Street in Fort Lauderdale. The suspects were found inside the stolen vehicle.
According to the arrest report, a 2021 white BMW was also identified by Miami Beach Police as being involved in the crime. The suspects were named as Darrin Green, Reginald Buchanan, and Demone Francis.
During the arrests, Miami Beach Police sources told 7News that the suspects discarded a Glock semi-automatic handgun equipped with a .33-round extended magazine, which was subsequently recovered by authorities. Fort Lauderdale Police also discovered another pistol inside the vehicle.
The arrest report indicated that the second gun “was in no way securely encased and was readily accessible to the front seat passenger.”
The three suspects are currently facing a range of charges, including weapons offenses, drug possession, and outstanding warrants from Palm Beach County and Broward County.
The victim expressed his gratitude for surviving the encounter. “Thank God that myself or my wife or my kids weren’t outside. These guys were heavily armed,” he said. “God forbid this situation would’ve escalated. You would’ve had a different story to report on.”
7News has learned that the suspects may soon face additional charges in Miami-Dade County. All three remain incarcerated at the Broward County jail.
