St. Pete Police Want To Question Man In Tyrone Square Mall Theft

ST. PETERSBURG, FL - St. Petersburg detectives want to speak to a person of interest captured on surveillance video in connection to an armed robbery that occurred in the Tyrone Square Mall parking lot on Nov. 23.

Police have increased the number of officers at Tyrone Square Mall after a man shot into a car and stole a woman's purse in the parking lot on Thanksgiving Day, police said. Police officers and mall security guards were in the immediate area patrolling at the time of the theft.

About 9:25 p.m. on Nov. 23, a 51-year-old woman noticed a man following her when she was walking back to her car. She rushed to her PT Cruiser and locked the door, but the man pulled out a gun and fired one shot into her car, shattering the driver’s side window, police said. The robber then reached into the vehicle and snatched her purse. He left in a waiting Saturn. The woman was not injured.

The Saturn was recovered shortly afterwards near 9th Avenue S and 44th Street S. The car had been reported stolen a few days ago.

Anyone who can help identify the man is asked to call the St. Petersburg Police Dept. at 893-7780 or text SPPD + the tip to TIP411.

Image via St. Petersburg Police Department