PASCO COUNTY, Fla. (WFLA) — Deputies with the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office want your help identifying thieves who used a sledgehammer to smash a hole into a Best Buy building and then went inside and stole Apple iPads.
Detectives say it happened between 1 and 4 a.m. on Monday at the Best Buy located at 5947 Wesley Grove Boulevard.
The two suspects used the sledgehammer to make the hole in one of the exterior walls of the store and then entered the building. Once inside, they scaled the shelving to a locked case that held Apple gadgets. The pair stole several iPads and left the store around 4:09 a.m.
Surveillance cameras recorded video of the thieves. The sheriff”s office released images with the hope that someone would recognize the suspects.
News Channel 8 talked with shoppers Monday.
“I’ve seen crashes through the front of stores and gas stations, but somebody taking a sledgehammer and trying to beat through a brick wall? That’s a first,” shopper Steve Hunter said.
“I don’t know why anyone would want to bust up a store … We didn’t know if someone had tried a hammer or a gun. We didn’t know if someone had shot into the store,” another shopper, Alexis Byrd, said.
News Channel 8 reached out to Best Buy’s corporate offices and a spokesperson released the following statement:
“We can confirm that early this morning, a break-in occurred at our Wesley Chapel store. We are helping authorities in their investigation and encourage anyone with information about the incident to contact local police.”
If you can identify them or know anything about the case, please call 1-800-706-2488 or leave a tip here.
