Sep 26, 2007 11:47 pm US/Eastern

South Florida's Bounty Hunters Stalk By Night

David Sutta
Reporting

(CBS4) MIAMI You probably associate the words bounty hunters with chasing down criminals. CBS4 reporter David Sutta is showing you another side of the business rarely seen.

On any given night, bounty hunters are roaming the streets of South Florida searching for illegal immigrants. We learned not only is it happening here; it's big business. We're used to hearing the government, not bounty hunters, picking up illegal immigrants. It turns out catching a wanted illegal immigrant fetches thousand of dollars. While the money is good, the job is tough.

These bounty hunters risk their lives on every arrest and literally tear families apart. In the office of a Miami bondsman, Manny Periu and John Liberatore are preparing for work.

"These are the cases that are already set for deportation and this one is urgent. This is the guy we have to hit at five in the morning," said Periu.

The stack of files, on illegal immigrants, were all given a bond when they came to America. When they failed to appear in court, it gets turned over to bounty hunters to track them down for deportation.

Before hitting the streets, Periu says good-bye to his family.

"You never know what's going to happen. I might not come home tonight and at least I know they saw me and everything is good," said Periu.

The bounty hunters wait until dark to begin their roundup, suiting up like a cop, except they have more power. They don't need a warrant to bust down your door.

"What's on the other side of the door is what scares me the most."

The first stop Fort Lauderdale...

"Jump it... he's got cameras set up," said Periu.

This is the frustrating part of the business. The woman they're looking for, who they call the "skip" is not home. They'll have to come back.

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