MIAMI BEACH, Fla. – A transgender woman was arrested this week on accusations that she drugged multiple men in South Florida and then stole their expensive watches.
The incidents involving John Cecil Collins, 29, allegedly occurred in both the city of Miami and Miami Beach.
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“Collins’ modus operandi was to approach men wearing expensive watches and offer them rides in rented luxury/exotic cars that she was driving,” Miami Police Officer Kiara Delva said in a news release. “Most of the victims were around bars/nightclubs in the Brickell and Downtown areas. When the victims entered the cars, they were offered a drink or drugs. When the victims consumed the drink or drugs, they would lose consciousness. The victims would wake up hours later and notice that their watches were stolen.”
According to an arrest report regarding one of the incidents, Collins, who is from Miami, was sitting in a rented Maserati SUV and saw the victim leaving the Do Not Sit on the Furniture lounge at 423 16th St. around 4 a.m. June 4 and asked him if he needed a ride.
Police said the victim accepted the offer and told Collins that he was staying at the 1 Hotel South Beach on Collins Avenue.
But the victim says he remembers very little of the trip and just recalls waking up at Mount Sinai Medical Center.
According to the arrest report, surveillance video shows Collins pulling up to the front of a parking garage in the 100 block of 24th Street, helping the victim, who was nearly unconscious, out of the SUV and then laying him down on the pavement in a parking space.
A hotel worker saw what was happening and told Collins to call 911, but she left the scene, authorities said.
Police said the hotel worker then called 911 and Miami Beach Fire Rescue personnel transported the victim to the hospital.
The victim told officers he believes Collins may have slipped something in his drink.
Collins, who was located Wednesday driving a rented Porsche Panamera, was arrested on charges of grand theft, robbery by sudden snatching and possession of cocaine.
Police said Collins refused to make any statements to detectives.
Miami police believe there are more victims out there and are asking anyone who believes they have been targeted by Collins to come forward to authorities.