Parking lot suffers night of break-ins

By ANNE MARTINEZ
Herald Writer

``I was really surprised,`` said Issod, who has lived at the building for 18 years, as she removed broken glass from the car's passenger seat. ``We've never had this happen in all of the years that I've been here.''

Miami Beach police say they have no suspects in the break-ins.

The culprits apparently didn't get away with much. According to Roy Sitomer, the building's manager, Issod's cellular phone and $7.50 in quarters, and a videocassette recorder in a Ford Explorer, were the only items stolen.

The burglars, police said, targeted six Lexuses in hopes of stealing them by obtaining a spare key that is often attached to Lexus owners' manuals.

``Many owners forget to remove them,'' Auto Crimes Unit Sgt. Lenny Alamo said. ``We've heard in the past that thieves look for this.''

Although the building's front desk is staffed by an overnight security guard, and three television cameras monitor the parking garage, the guard apparently didn't hear or see the break-ins.

``The whole incident is very odd,'' Sitomer said. ``I just don't get it.''

Sitomer said he plans to increase lighting in the building's front parking lot, where three cars were ransacked, and repair the faulty garage gates.