Miami Crime Ring Stole Millions, Used Instagram To Stalk Victims

Xandi Garcia and his crew used Instagram to flaunt what appeared to be a luxurious lifestyle, draping themselves in showy watches and chains, posing with exotic cars and preening aboard boats.

The lifestyle, police and prosecutors said Tuesday, was actually fueled by marijuana grow houses and carefully planned burglaries targeting the wealthy and their jewelry.

And technology proved to be their downfall. Garcia and at least nine others charged on Tuesday left a powerful digital trail of crimes stretching over two years, prosecutors said.

In one case, Garcia’s own internal home surveillance system — including audio — captured them planning a heist, and returning with stolen goods hours later, police said.

Miami-Dade police detectives said they also discovered that Garcia was using social media to monitor New York Yankees star pitcher Arnoldis Chapman, and even dispatched two cohorts to surveil and video record the player’s Davie home.