Car theft in South Florida rarely lacks for audacity, but a case out of Hollywood, Florida is drawing particular attention for the sheer nerve involved. A Miami-Dade couple was arrested Friday after Broward Sheriff’s Office detectives observed them stealing a Honda CRV from a parking lot and then leading investigators on a cross-county route to stash the vehicle. The detail that elevated this from a straightforward auto theft to something considerably worse: the couple’s young child was asleep in the back seat the entire time.
Jeyson Javier, 32, of Opa-locka, and Daniela Alfonso Dominguez, 25, of Miami Gardens, now face charges including grand theft auto, child neglect without great bodily harm, and possession of burglary tools. Detectives from BSO’s Burglary Apprehension Team had already been watching Javier before the theft even happened, tailing his Honda Civic as he scoped a parking lot at 2200 S. Ocean Drive in Hollywood. What unfolded next was apparently the couple’s idea of a productive Friday.
The Honda CRV is a perennially popular theft target precisely because of its widespread presence on Florida roads. A common vehicle means a readily available resale market for parts, a familiar ignition system to exploit, and plenty of cover when moving a stolen unit across county lines. Javier allegedly forced his way into the parked CRV, got it started, and drove it out of the lot, while Dominguez followed closely behind in the Civic. The convoy then made its way south into Miami-Dade County.
Authorities noted the operation had clear hallmarks of a practiced routine rather than a spontaneous grab. The route, the “cool down” stop at an apartment complex on Northwest 17th Avenue in Miami Gardens, the GPS removal mid-drive, the pre-loaded toolkit in the Civic: this was not a first attempt. What was perhaps less professionally considered was the child buckled into the back seat throughout the entire operation.
How the Theft Went Down
According to BSO arrest reports, Javier did not waste time at the Hollywood apartment parking lot. He forced entry into the CRV, managed to start it, and drove away with Dominguez trailing in the Civic. At some point during the drive, Javier pulled out what deputies believe was the vehicle’s GPS unit. Removing GPS tracking is a standard step in organized vehicle theft; it eliminates the risk of a stolen car being remotely located and pinged by the owner or a dealership while the thieves work out their next move.
The pair brought the stolen CRV to an apartment complex in Miami Gardens, described in reports as a “cool down” location. This terminology is common in vehicle theft investigations and refers to a staging area where stolen cars are held temporarily before being moved again, stripped for parts, or transferred. Javier then returned to the Civic, at which point BSO detectives moved in and took both him and Dominguez into custody.
The Toolkit Told the Story
Inside the Civic, detectives found an inventory that made the casual observer’s hair stand up. Multiple aftermarket Honda key fobs consistent with reprogrammed ignition keys, a tablet used to reprogram vehicle systems, screwdrivers, and lock-punching tools were all recovered. The combination of reprogrammed keys and a programming tablet points toward relay attack or key cloning methods, which have become increasingly prevalent in modern vehicle theft, particularly targeting Honda and Toyota models.
Relay attacks work by amplifying the signal from a key fob inside a home to trick a vehicle parked outside into thinking the legitimate key is present, unlocking and starting the car without any forced entry. Key cloning takes it further by copying the fob’s signal to a blank programmable key. Neither technique is new, but both continue to outpace the security countermeasures installed on many production vehicles. Florida, with its dense population and active used car market, consistently ranks among the top states nationally for vehicle theft volume.
Dominguez’s Role and Javier’s Record
BSO’s arrest reports were direct about Dominguez’s level of involvement. Investigators noted she was aware of exactly what Javier was doing, provided the Civic as the operational vehicle, followed the stolen CRV to two separate locations, and was present for the pickup after the CRV was stashed. Under Florida law, actively facilitating and participating in a theft operation, even without being the one who physically steals the vehicle, is sufficient for criminal liability.
Javier, for his part, arrived at this arrest carrying the weight of multiple outstanding warrants, including prior charges for grand theft auto, loitering and prowling, resisting or obstructing an officer, and driving with a suspended license. His record suggests this was not a recent hobby.
A Child in the Back Seat
When detectives approached the Civic and took the couple into custody, they found the child asleep in the back seat. BSO’s reports stated plainly that the pair had driven around scouting vehicles and completed a theft with the child present throughout. The child neglect charge reflects that assessment.
Beyond the legal exposure, the scenario presents an obvious practical danger. A vehicle theft operation involving surveillance by law enforcement, a cross-county drive in a stolen car, GPS removal, and a stash house stop is not a controlled environment. Had the situation escalated at any point during the operation, the child would have been directly in harm’s way with no ability to exit or seek help.
Both Javier and Dominguez were booked into jail following their arrest.