A couple of burglars who have been breaking into cellphone stores are leaving the smartphones behind and grabbing the stores’ safes instead.
The two have been caught on camera at least twice and Broward Sheriff’s investigators released surveillance video Monday — hoping someone will recognize and report them
The first break-in happened about 3 a.m. Feb. 2 in a Metro PCS store at 5558 W. Sample Rd. in Margate.
The surveillance video showed the burglars shattering a large window pane with what looked like a center-punch tool. They are seen running through the glass, past the cellphone display cases, straight to the back of the business where they started kicking the safe that was bolted in place on the floor behind the cashier’s counter.
Once the safe was dislodged, they picked it up and ran out of the store, the video showed.
Security cameras recorded a similar scenario about 3:30 a.m. Feb. 5 in the Metro PCS store at 420 W. Hillsboro Beach Blvd. in Deerfield Beach, investigators said.
The video showed the burglars kicking a safe that was bolted to the floor behind the checkout counter until it came loose and then carrying it out.
One of the thieves was dressed in a dark blue hoodie jacket with PUMA in white lettering across the chest, and dark blue sweat pants with Nike Air in white lettering on the right leg. He had the hood pulled tight around his face and wore dark gloves. The second man had a dark beard and wore glasses, a dark jacket, and a dark baseball cap with a “Y” logo on the front, the video showed.
Investigators are asking anyone who can identify these suspects or who has any other information to contact Broward Sheriff’s Detective Derek Diaz at 954-480-4331. For anonymous tips, contact Broward Crime Stoppers at 954-493-8477 or online at browardcrimestoppers.org. Anonymous tips that lead to an arrest are eligible for a reward of up to $3,000.
wkroustan@sunsentinel.com or 954-356-4303 or Twitter @WayneRoustan
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