Video shows thief stealing Rolex watches from local golf clubs; suspect has out-of-state warrants, police say – WSVN 7News | Miami News, Weather, Sports

MIAMI SHORES, FLA. (WSVN) – A watch thief facing serious charges was caught on camera stealing expensive Rolex watches from more than one South Florida golf course.

Ivan Urquiza was wearing a polo shirt and even carrying a golf club, but when the 54-year-old went to the Miami Beach Country Club on Alton Road on Jan. 13, he wasn’t there to gamble but to rob, police said.

Surveillance video shows the suspect slowly walking toward the carts and getting into one.

While in that cart, detectives said, the golf bag thief got hold of a Rolex Submariner.

A police report states that as Urquiza walked away, he was “caught on video removing his watch from his left hand and placing it on his right hand and then in his right pocket.”

Surveillance video, obtained exclusively by 7News, appears to show just that.

Moments before the robbery, investigators said, the victim removed his Submariner valued at nearly $12,000 before it was stolen.

The country club staff was notified and when they reviewed the security cameras, the footage showed the foul play.

That same day, police said, Urquiza arrived at the Miami Shores Country Club on Biscayne Boulevard, where he engaged in similarly sinister behavior.

Investigators said the suspect explored the location, climbed into a cart and committed another robbery.

It wasn’t until June that Miami Shores police detectives tracked down and arrested Urquiza. They said he already had several out-of-state warrants for his arrest for crimes including grand larceny, fraud and others.

The Miami Beach County Club was the site of another similar and notable crime in February.

Tourist Tommy McJunkins said his expensive Rolex “Hulk” had been stolen before Miami Beach police officers and golf club employees chased the accused offender.

“They got on their walkie-talkies and said, ‘Yeah, we saw that guy right there and they deployed as Delta Force,’” McJunkins said.

It was yet another story of criminal theft on the green.

“Don’t leave your stuff in your golf bag unattended,” McJunkins said.

Urquiza remains locked up at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center in West Miami-Dade. He faces multiple felony charges and is pending trial.

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