Andrés Duquesne, a 60-year-old Cuban man, was arrested this week for committing multiple burglaries across Miami-Dade cities, including Miami and Miami Beach. With an extensive criminal record, Duquesne now faces charges for six thefts, including burglary, petty theft, and fraudulent credit card use.
According to Mike Vega, spokesperson for the Miami Police Department, Duquesne is accused of stealing wallets, withdrawing cash, and using the credit cards of his victims for his personal gain. In at least three separate cases, Duquesne took wallets from various locations, including:
A smoke shop, where he took a wallet from the back and used the credit cards, alerting the shop owner to the crime.
A café, where Duquesne accessed an employee-only area and stole a wallet along with $100 in cash.
A parked vehicle, where he stole a wallet and, as was his routine, used the victim’s credit cards fraudulently.
Authorities believe there may be more victims, which could lead to additional charges being filed against Duquesne.
At his court hearing, Judge Mindy S. Glazer raised Duquesne’s bail, citing the recurrence of his criminal activity. She also issued restraining orders against Duquesne from returning to the businesses where he had committed the thefts, including restaurants, hotels, and laundromats. Judge Glazer emphasized the importance of protecting hardworking community members.
“If found guilty, Duquesne could face a prison sentence ranging from 60 days to 15 years, along with potential fines,” said the judge.
Officer Mike Vega urged the public to take precautions against such crimes. He recommended that valuables, including wallets and firearms, should not be left inside vehicles, and suggested business owners provide locked lockers to employees to secure their belongings.
The investigation remains ongoing, and more charges could follow as authorities review additional cases.
