Wall-Climbing Hotel Burglar of Miami Resort Arrested

By Hamodia Staff

A thief who climbed up the side of a building by hopping from balcony to balcony and who stole money, jewelry and other items from residents of The Alexander Hotel All Suite Oceanfront Resort was arrested by the Miami Beach Police Department.

Anthony Butler, 34, of northwest Miami-Dade will be charged with burglary to an occupied dwelling and grand theft.

“We didn’t hear a thing, and I’m a light sleeper,” said Chanie Brisk, one of the victims whose jewelry was stolen, told Local 10 News on Jan. 16.

Another victim, Mayer Greenbaum, said he felt safe on the ninth floor of the hotel at 5225 Collins Avenue in Miami Beach, but his wallet and his daughter’s and wife’s jewelry were stolen.

A victim who wished to remain anonymous told Hamodia that she and three of her relatives were staying in one of the units and were burglarized. She woke up at around 7 a.m. and found a child’s birth certificate on the floor, which was alarming. She later found that cash and jewelry had been stolen from her pocketbook.

Another victim, her sister, who was sleeping closer to the porch that the thief had used to enter, had her pocketbook emptied, which had contained jewelry, a wallet, and identification for herself and her daughter. “They even stole diapers!” the victim said. “They [her sister and niece] needed a letter from police stating that their IDs were stolen in order to travel home.”

Butler reportedly scaled the rear portion of the building, going from balcony to balcony and trying to enter through unlocked doors.

Miami Beach Police Department said that after he sold a gold watch that was reported stolen, Butler was observed driving away from the building in a 2023 Toyota Camry and heading west on Interstate 95. Police used license plate readers and surveillance videos to track the suspect to his home at Northwest 84th Street in the unincorporated West Little River area.

The suspect was taken into custody without incident, and after a resident of his house consented for them to search the home, they collected Butler’s brown Polo sandals, whose impression matched prints left on one of the balconies of the building.

Butler reportedly waived his rights and gave a full confession to the crimes.

Butler is also facing additional charges for two separate burglaries in January. The bond for all three incidents was set at $27,500.

Anyone with information about the case is requested to call Miami-Dade County Crime Stoppers at 305-471-8477.