By Matt Wiley
The Tampa Police Department (TPD) is urging New Tampa residents to be cautious and on the lookout for suspicious behavior in parking lots, following a series of car burglaries.
According to TPD, between 4:50 p.m. on December 10 and 6 a.m. on December 11, three vehicle burglaries were reported in New Tampa and Tampa Palms, all with similar patterns, commonly referred to as “Smash & Grabs.”
The first occurred on December 10 in the parking lot of the New Tampa Dance Theatre (NTDT) on Cross Creek Blvd. TPD reports that an unknown suspect broke the passenger side window of a parked vehicle and stole a large, “counterfeit” Michael Kors purse. Inside the purse was a wallet containing one debit card.
NTDT director Dyane Elkins IronWing said that no one witnessed any suspicious behavior and that the dance school is looking into installing additional security measures in the parking lot.
A few hours later, in the parking lot of Peabody’s Billiards & Games — located in the Shoppes of Amberly in Tampa Palms next to our office — unknown suspect(s) smashed the windows of two vehicles that were parked while the victims were jogging in the area. The suspect(s) took the victims’ purses, which contained IDs and credit cards. The victims told TPD that their cell phones also were taken.
Peabody’s chief financial officer Jeff Bennett says that he has advised his security personnel — who are on-hand every night until 4 a.m., even though the bar closes at 3 a.m. — to pay additional attention to the parking lot while patrons are still present.
TPD urges residents to use caution when leaving valuables in their vehicles. If something of value must be left in a vehicle, make sure that it is stowed away and out of sight. Also, when you go out at night, try to park in well-lit areas.
If you see any suspicious behavior, don’t hesitate to call 9-1-1 or the non-emergency line at 931-6500.
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