Miami

Pair Accused of Stealing Man's $28K Rolex at Miami Beach Hotel

A man and woman are facing charges after police say the woman stole an expensive Rolex watch from a man she met at a Miami Beach nightclub.

Francisco Trujillo, 30, and Liliana F. Vanegas, 25, are both charged with grand theft following their arrests Monday. Vanegas is also charged with cocaine possession.

The pair, who are both Colombian citizens, appeared in bond court Tuesday, where Vanegas was ordered held on $21,000 bond and Trujillo was given $7,500 bond.

"At this point these are only allegations, no official charges have been filed at this point in time, bond has been set and I have really no further comment at this time regarding the specifics of the allegations," defense attorney Ray Sarmiento said after the court hearing.

According to arrest reports, Vanegas met the victim at a nightclub and went back to his room at the Loews Hotel on Collins Avenue on Miami Beach.

Vanegas told the man she had too much to drink and needed to lie down, and he laid down next to her and took off his $28,000 Rolex and placed it on the nightstand, the report said.

Around 7 a.m., Vanegas got up, grabbed the watch and ran out, then tried to get into two taxis but was stopped by the man both times, the reports said.

The victim, Arvin Malhi, who was visiting Miami from Ontario, said he was shocked.

"Before I could ask her anything she picked up my watch from my side table and she left," Malhi said. "I got so surprised I jumped out of my bed and she quickly ran out of the room and then I woke up my cousin who was sleeping in the living room and I said 'Jesse, she took my watch.'"

Vanegas placed a call and a minute later, Trujillo picked her up in a white 2014 Mercedes, the report said. The victim called police and officers were able to stop the car on the MacArthur Causeway.

Officers found a baggie in Vanegas' wallet with cocaine inside and a plastic bottle containing a white milky liquid, suspected to be Xanax, Ambien and water, the reports said.

Vanegas is also facing two charges from a separate incident in February in Miami. Police that that case involves a strong arm robbery in which an alleged victim was drugged.

Contact Us