MIAMI, FL – In a significant breakthrough for law enforcement, two individuals have been apprehended in connection with a series of armed robberies that specifically targeted clubgoers flaunting high-end timepieces across Miami Beach and the City of Miami. The arrests of Dwight Gustave, 30, and Andria Banks, 41, follow an extensive multi-agency investigation, shedding light on a prevalent and trending criminal activity in South Florida.
Police say the duo engaged in a calculated scheme, surveilling victims as they exited popular nightclubs before following them to their destinations and ambushing them at gunpoint. This intricate method allowed the suspects to seize exceptionally valuable items, including an Audemars Piguet Skeleton watch, reportedly worth $60,000, in one of the documented incidents. The collaborative effort involved the Miami Beach Police Department, City of Miami Police Department, and both the Miami-Dade and Broward Sheriff’s Offices, leading to the successful apprehension of the alleged culprits.
The Anatomy of the Heists
Investigators have linked Gustave and Banks to at least four armed robberies – three occurring in Miami Beach and one within the City of Miami. The investigation culminated in a search warrant executed at Gustave’s residence, where detectives made substantial recoveries. Over $176,000 in stolen property was found, a testament to the profitability of these high-stakes crimes. Among the recovered items were another Audemars Piguet Skeleton watch, astonishingly valued at $140,000, a Rolex Sky-Dweller worth $20,000, and $16,400 in cash. Police also discovered clothing and a ski mask that matched descriptions and surveillance footage from the robberies, further solidifying the case against the pair.
Authorities noted that both suspects have a history with law enforcement. Dwight Gustave was previously arrested in 2020 by Miami Beach officers for robbery-related offenses. Andria Banks, a more seasoned offender, is currently serving probation for high-end jewelry thefts that collectively exceed $500,000. Miami Beach Police Chief Wayne A. Jones commended the collaborative efforts, stating, “This successful investigation highlights the vigilance and professionalism of our detectives, and we are deeply grateful to the City of Miami Police Department and the Miami-Dade and Broward Sheriff’s Offices for their outstanding partnership.” Police urge anyone who believes they may have been victimized by Gustave or Banks to contact Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers.
A Broader Pattern: Miami’s Luxury Watch Crime Wave
These arrests underscore a disturbing and ongoing news trend in Miami: the proliferation of luxury watch thefts. The city has unfortunately garnered a reputation, with one South Florida private investigator, David Bolton, boldly proclaiming, “Miami is the stolen watch capital of the world. All of the stolen watches are coming to Miami.” This chilling assessment reflects a complex landscape of criminal activity targeting affluent residents and visitors.
Criminals employ various sophisticated and often violent tactics to relieve victims of their expensive timepieces. Beyond the armed follow-home robberies attributed to Gustave and Banks, other common modus operandi include:
* “Bad Date” Scams: A particularly insidious method involves women meeting men at nightclubs or hotels, then drugging them and stealing their high-value watches and other possessions. Numerous arrests have been made in such cases. Angelina Chenel Esty, for instance, was apprehended after allegedly drugging men and stealing Rolexes, cash, and designer sunglasses across Doral, Miami, and Miami Beach. Other individuals like Rachel Marie Warner and Esther Torres have faced charges for similar schemes, sometimes involving the use of pepper spray.
* Organized Robbery Rings: Law enforcement has also identified and disrupted organized groups, often with international ties, specializing in luxury watch theft. One notable example involves members of a “South American theft group,” including individuals like Yeison Jose Bolivar and Yiever A. Capote-Diaz, linked to a $1 million Patek Philippe watch stolen in Beverly Hills and other high-end watch thefts in Miami. These groups are suspected to be part of larger criminal organizations, such as the Venezuelan street gang Tren de Aragua. Another group of Venezuelan nationals was charged after targeting tourists in the Miami Design District for high-end valuables, even firing at an undercover detective during one incident.
* Opportunistic and Violent Robberies: Beyond targeted follow-homes, other incidents involve direct confrontation. In one instance, two men pistol-whipped a victim and stole Rolexes after approaching victims in their vehicle. Even jewelry store owners have become targets, with one Miami proprietor being robbed of a $70,000 watch right outside his establishment.
Vigilance and Law Enforcement Response
The rising number of these incidents serves as a stark reminder for individuals to exercise heightened caution, particularly when displaying expensive items in public. Police advisories frequently recommend against taking new acquaintances from nightclubs directly to private residences.
Despite the challenges posed by these sophisticated criminal networks, the recent arrests of Gustave and Banks demonstrate the unwavering commitment of local and regional law enforcement agencies to combat this alarming trend. The recovery of significant stolen property and the dismantling of such operations are crucial steps in deterring future crimes and restoring a sense of security for residents and visitors alike in one of the world’s most vibrant, yet currently vulnerable, luxury markets.
