5A - Identifying Local Opportunities

1. More than 20 vehicles vandalized in northwest Miami-Dade

     https://www.local10.com/news/florida/miami-dade/more-than-20-vehicles-vandalized-in-northwest-miami-dade

     On the night of January 22nd, more than 20 vehicles were vandalized overnight in northwest Miami-Dade. Residents along Northwest 124th Street told woke up Wednesday morning to find their front driver's side windows smashed. Surveillance videos shows a person scoping out cars while they were parked before picking out cars to break into. One man said the car burglar or burglars broke into his pickup truck outside his home and rummaged through the center console. Despite the break-in, he said nothing was taken, leaving the cars vandalized. A resident of the neighborhood said that such an action surprised him, because nothing like that had ever occurred in a span of 30 years of him living there. The suspect is still at large, and police say the thieves weren't targeting any specific vehicle. 

     The problem presented in this story could be a variety of things. First off there is a clear need for added security in the neighborhood, whether it be through a guard at the entrance of the neighborhood, a wandering guard, a watchman, etc. Also, the need for more durable car windows that may have been able to withstand the vandalism better and may have made him take his time. 

    This problem affects all the residents of the neighborhood, the car owners, and the owner of the property of community. 


2. South Florida airports experience delays due to weather, staffing issues up north

   https://www.local10.com/travel/south-florida-airports-experience-delays-due-to-weather-staffing-issues-up-north

    Yellow delay advisories began appearing on Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport's arrival and departures board Friday, compounding air travel issues associated with the government shutdown. Inside reported  counted at least nine delays early Friday afternoon, several of which were from or to LaGuardia Airport and John F. Kennedy International Airport. The two airports were dealing with staffing issues due to the shutdown. A spokesperson for Fort Lauderdale's airport said there were delays up to 1 hour, 45 minutes due to weather up north and the Federal Aviation Administration's traffic management. There was even a ground stop at LaGuardia due to staffing shortages. That has been lifted, but there was still a domino effect in play because of the New York airspace congestion. Miami International Airport was also experiencing delays averaging 1 hour, 26 minutes early Friday afternoon. Passengers and airport workers were relieved later in the afternoon when the president announced he had reached a temporary deal with Congress to reopen the government. Many felt for government workers, like TSA screeners, who had to work with no pay and wait in lines at mobile food banks to feed their families over the last month.

  This problem is caused by the president's refusal to comply with many of congress's wishes, as well as the Wall he wants to build between the US and Mexico which prompted the shutdown. As well as a lack of workers due to the fact they are working without pay. 

The people affected by this problem include TSA workers, and people traveling, as well as where those people are traveling to. 

3. Coast Guard searches for crew member who fell from Royal Caribbean cruise ship

https://www.local10.com/news/florida/broward/coast-guard-searches-for-crew-member-who-fell-from-royal-caribbean-cruise-ship

    The U.S. Coast Guard is searching for a crew member who fell overboard on aRoyal Caribbean cruise ship off the coast of South Florida. A Coast Guard news release said Thursday that the 26-year-old crew member fell from the Majesty of the Seas, about 37 miles east of the Hillsboro Inlet. Royal Caribbean International spokesman said other crew members witnessed their colleague going overboard shortly after 2:30 a.m. Torres said the captain immediately stopped the ship to begin rescue efforts and notified the Coast Guard. Once the Coast Guard took over the search, the ship continued on its way to Port Everglades. The Majesty of the Seas was on the tail end of a five-night cruise from South Florida to the Bahamas. The Coast Guard is using a helicopter, airplane and a cutter to search for the overboard crew member, who hasn't been identified. 

 This problem was caused by the lack of railing of different safety precautions on the ocean liner, as well as ignorance of the worker and lack of safety protocol. The fact that the employee has yet to be found is also a lack of planning or technology by the coast guard, and there should be better methods of looking for overboard passengers. 

  This problem affects the brand of Royal Caribbean, as well as the passengers, the ship, and the people who now have a stigma against ocean liners. 

4. Thief uses cloned debit card to purchase $1,200 in money orders, deputies say

https://www.local10.com/news/florida/broward/thief-uses-cloned-debit-card-to-purchase-1200-in-money-orders-deputies-say

Broward Sheriff's Office detectives are searching for a man they said used a cloned debit card to purchase $1,200 worth of money orders. According to deputies, the victim, who lives in Georgia, received several notifications from her bank around 5 p.m. Jan. 4 that someone was trying to access her bank account from several locations in South Florida. Deputies said surveillance video shows a man using the cloned debit card moments later at the customer service counter at the Publix at 1297 S. State Road 7 in North Lauderdale. Authorities said the thief had called the victim weeks before he stole her debit card information. According to deputies, the man posed as a representative from her home security company and was able to get her bank account and personal information. 

This problem is caused by a lack of security by the bank account, as well as the ignorance of the victim who did not verify the identity, as well as the clerk who sold the money order.

This affects the victim, and the debit card company who lacked security and keeping the debit card safe from an identity thief. 

5. Elderly woman crashes SUV into AT&T store in Miami Gardens, police say

https://www.local10.com/news/florida/miami-dade/elderly-woman-crashes-suv-into-at-t-store-in-miami-gardens-police-say

An elderly woman crashed her SUV into an AT&T store Friday in Miami Gardens, authorities said. The crash was reported at 5644 NW 167th St.According to police, the SUV first struck three parked vehicles before driving straight into the business. A witness said that the store looked like a Car dealership, due to the car being so deep into the store when it crashed. Police said it appears the driver accidentally hit the accelerator instead of the brakes. The old lady was said to be seen shook, pale, and scared. The woman was cited for careless driving. Authorities said no one was seriously injured. 

This problem is caused by the lack of awareness by the driver, who seemed to be an older lady, and did not know the difference between the accelerator or the break.

This affects the store that was damaged, as well as the old lady who was probably traumatized and the cars that were damaged.