In a series of calculated crimes that shocked Miami Beach, 20-year-old Esther Torres has been sentenced to five years of probation after pleading guilty to charges of armed robbery, burglary, and grand theft in the third degree. Torres targeted male tourists at upscale hotels, luring them to their rooms under false pretenses, pepper-spraying them, and stealing high-value items, including luxury watches and cash.

The first incident occurred on March 26 at the Breakwater Hotel in Miami Beach. Torres accompanied an international tourist to his room, where she pepper-sprayed him and forcibly removed his Hugo Boss watch from his wrist. She also stole over $200 in cash, Euros, and multiple credit cards before fleeing the scene. Surveillance footage captured her leaving the hotel, moving briskly and nonchalantly after the attack.

Four days later, on March 30, Torres struck again at the prestigious Fontainebleau Hotel. In a similar scheme, she lured another male victim to his room, pepper-sprayed him, and stole a Rolex Submariner valued at $22,000. The victim reported being temporarily blinded by the chemical spray, highlighting the violent nature of the assault. Once again, hotel surveillance footage showed Torres exiting the premises after the robbery.

Mitch Novick, owner of the Sherbrooke Hotel located just a three-minute walk from the Breakwater Hotel, assisted police by providing additional surveillance footage that helped track Torres’ movements. “We have a predator, and she’s preying on male victims,” Novick told local media, emphasizing the deliberate targeting of vulnerable tourists.

Torres’ crimes came to light during a traffic stop in April, when she arrived at the scene after the driver of a vehicle linked to one of the robberies was arrested. Police identified her using her driver’s license and later matched her to an image on a “need to identify” flyer circulated by the Miami Beach Police Department. On May 15, Torres was arrested on two counts of first-degree robbery. Body-worn camera footage of the arrest revealed a young child, believed to be her son, in her car at the time. When asked by officers if she had any weapons, Torres, dressed in a strapless white top and hair bonnet, replied, “No, no.”

Initially held without bond, Torres was granted a recognizance bond in late June, allowing her release pending court proceedings. On July 16, she accepted a plea deal, avoiding jail time and receiving five years of probation. She is no longer in the jail system but remains under court supervision for the duration of her sentence.

Torres’ case is part of a broader pattern of similar crimes in Miami, with police noting other incidents involving women targeting men at luxury hotels. Her actions have drawn significant attention, underscoring the risks faced by tourists in popular destinations like Miami Beach.