MIAMI, Fla. — A tourist is behind bars after allegedly stealing a $16,000 bottle of wine from a Brickell restaurant and a $40,000 statue from an art gallery, authorities say.
Stevan Milovanovic, 35, is accused of two grand theft incidents that occurred on Saturday.
Police said officers first responded to Sexy Fish in Brickell around 12:20 p.m. for the reported $16,000 theft. Milovanovic and another man entered as customers. Before ordering, Milovanovic allegedly went to the restaurant’s restricted wine cellar, removed a bottle of Monopole 1996 La Tache, and hid it in his jacket. He then replaced it with another bottle in an apparent attempt to avoid detection before leaving the restaurant. The other man paid for the meal in cash and left without eating.
Surveillance footage captured Milovanovic leaving in the passenger side of a red Jeep Wrangler. Hours later, authorities say he went to Galeries Bartoux in the Miami Design District, where surveillance confirmed he stole an art piece valued at $40,000.
Police intercepted the Jeep on Interstate 395 early Monday morning. Milovanovic allegedly admitted to being the man in the surveillance footage and confessed to both thefts.
He was arrested and charged with second- and third-degree grand theft.
