SURFSIDE, Fla. – A recent wave of electric scooter thefts, many targeting restaurant employees, is causing concern in Surfside and Miami Beach.
New video obtained by Local 10 News captured some of the brazen crimes that occurred over the past few months.
Jake Brown, executive chef at the popular Street Kitchen in Surfside, says the thefts are becoming all too common.
“It’s actually like we have to be checking out back every time because when they actually come is when we are busy inside,” Brown said.
Surveillance footage from Street Kitchen on Oct. 28 shows a thief covering his face, breaking a lock, and stealing a scooter despite a visible security camera nearby.
Brown estimates the scooters, often valued at over $1,000, are essential for many workers who rely on them for transportation.
“We learned our lesson,” Brown said. “We are locking them up now to make sure we don’t have any more scooters missing.”
The trend is not isolated to Surfside. Similar incidents have been reported in Miami Beach, where restaurant employees have also fallen victim to these thefts.
Authorities are urging anyone with information about the thefts to contact Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at 305-471-8477.