A Florida woman was arrested after she allegedly recruited her kids to break into her neighbor’s apartment and steal furniture, which they left outside.
Nicole Bottiglieri-Vega has been charged with grand theft, contributing to the delinquency of a child, criminal mischief and resisting arrest.
Authorities learned of the incident when Miami police responded to an apartment complex on October 29 after a man and his wife returned home from work and found that several of their belongings were left in a common area outside of their unit, according to a probable cause arrest affidavit obtained by Us.
The property manager then reviewed surveillance camera footage, which allegedly showed Bottiglieri-Vega, 42, and two children entering the apartment after they forced a back door open.
Police said that Bottiglieri-Vega and the children started to remove furniture and other items from the apartment before they placed them outside.
The property manager confirmed that Bottiglieri-Vega and her children moved into the apartment complex just two weeks prior to the incident.
Officers tried to speak to Bottiglieri-Vega, but she refused to open the door when they knocked. The officers eventually forced their way into her unit and found her in a bedroom.
Bottiglieri-Vega allegedly resisted her arrest, but the officers managed to get her into custody.
Following the incident, Bottiglieri-Vega’s neighbors said they were worried about her children’s welfare because she allegedly smokes crack cocaine. Discarded glass pipes and small baggies were also seen near her home.
Bottiglieri-Vega was taken to the Miami police headquarters and placed in her holding cell. Authorities said she slipped out of her handcuffs and tried to escape, but the officers quickly stopped her and got her handcuffs back on.
Following her arrest, Bottiglieri-Vega has reportedly refused to answer questions when detectives have tried to interview her about the incident.
Bottiglieri-Vega is currently in custody at Miami-Dade County Jail and is being held on a $1,300 bond, according to online records viewed by Us. She has pleaded not guilty, but it’s not currently clear whether she has retained legal counsel.
The City of Miami Police Department had no additional information to share when contacted by Us about updates in the case. The investigation remains ongoing, and the Department of Children and Families is also looking into the allegations.
It’s not currently clear who has custody of Bottiglieri-Vega’s children in light of her arrest.
