Men Smash Wall Of Cellphone Store In Failed Burglary: Sheriff

TAMPA, FL — The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office is looking for two men they say used a sledgehammer to break through the wall of a Metro PCS store in an attempt to burglarize the business. A release from the sheriff's office says the crime happened around 5 a.m. Thursday.

Deputies responded to the store, at 4309 Gunn Hwy., for a burglary alarm and arrive to find a large hole in a wall in the back of the store. No suspects were on the scene.

The sheriff's office says a surveillance camera captured two men walking toward the business at the time of the incident. The duo was then seen leaving toward Huber Avenue soon before deputies arrived.

They fled before they could get any merchandise, the release says.

One suspect is described as a white or Hispanic male, around 5-foot-9, with a medium build, short, dark hair and was last seen wearing a red long-sleeve Buccaneers shirt, a red bandanna around his neck and, blue jeans and dark shoes.

The other suspect is described as a black or dark-skinned Hispanic male last seen wearing a red Buccaneers hat, a red short-sleeve shirt with a long-sleeve white shirt underneath, gray sweatpants, red shoes and gloves.

“It doesn’t matter if these criminals walked away empty-handed. We want to put them in handcuffs to make sure they cannot commit a crime like this again,” said Sheriff Chad Chronister.

Anyone who with information on the suspects is asked to call the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office at 813-247-8200 or Crime Stoppers of Tampa Bay at 1-800-873-TIPS (8477).

See the surveillance video below: