Crime & Safety
3 Teens Charged In Manatee Vape Shop Burglary: Police
Manatee County authorities said the three 16-year-olds stole a car before burglarizing Big Boy Vapers in Bradenton.
BRADENTON, FL — Three teens are facing charges after police said they stole a car and burglarized a Manatee County vape shop.
The Manatee County Sheriff's Office said the three 16-year-old boys are charged with burglary, motor vehicle theft and resisting arrest after burglarizing Big Boy Vapers at 5203 Cortez Rd. in Bradenton. The trio was arrested early Friday morning while authorities conducted an overnight operation in connection with a string of recent vape shop burglaries, according to the sheriff's office.
Patch currently is not naming the teens because they have not been charged as adults.
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According to authorities, deputies spotted the driving a stolen Kia and burglarizing Big Boy Vapers around 3:45 a.m. Friday morning. Deputies pursued the teens, but they fled in the stolen car and later crashed in the 6800 block of 26th Street West, police said.
After a brief foot chase, deputies apprehended two of the teens. The third was taken into custody moments later by a K-9 unit.
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No one was injured, authorities said.
According to the sheriff's office, one of the teens was charged last year after breaking into multiple vape businesses in the area.
The investigation into the other vape shop burglaries remains ongoing. Police said additional arrests are likely.
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