PINECREST, FL — A high-stakes attempted burglary at the home of Real Housewives of Miami star Larsa Pippen ended in a canal-side capture and multiple arrests Sunday. Three Georgia men are now in custody after a botched heist that began with a shattered window and ended with a totaled getaway car.
The Setup: Watching from Afar
Despite being away from her residence at the time, Pippen was able to provide police with a “play-by-play” of the crime. Using her home surveillance system, she watched in real-time as the suspects approached her property and attempted to force entry.
“She was giving us real-time information as the officers were responding. When the officers approached the house, the getaway car was fleeing and went right past them,” Pinecrest Police Chief Jason Cohen told WSVN.
A Failed Heist and a Wild Pursuit
The suspects reportedly shattered the home’s windows, but an alarm system spooked the trio before they could step foot inside. As police closed in, the men fled in a getaway vehicle, which eventually crashed into another car and a fence on Southwest 57th Avenue.
Following the crash, the suspects bailed from the vehicle, sparking a foot pursuit. Chief Cohen, who heard the call on his radio and responded personally, found himself face-to-face with the youngest suspect.
The suspects identified by Pinecrest Police include:
- Treison Lachae Booker, 23, of Powder Springs, GA
- Cortez Daymon Johnson, 23, of Atlanta, GA
- Elijah Eugene Russell, 18, of Albany, GA
Capture in the Canal
The pursuit of 18-year-old Elijah Russell took a dramatic turn when he attempted to evade Chief Cohen by jumping into the Snapper Creek Canal.
“I start running after him… He jumps into the canal. When I get to the canal bank, he’s hanging on,” Cohen told Local 10. Russell was taken into custody shortly after.
Legal Consequences
The trio has been charged with attempted burglary. They are currently being held at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center, with bonds set between $7,500 and $8,000.
Authorities also noted that Russell has an outstanding arrest warrant from Georgia. Police believe the group specifically traveled from Georgia to Florida to target the reality star’s home.
