Grocery Bag Wearing Robber Fought Off With Milk Crate

SEFFNER, FL — The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office is asking for help identifying a man it says robbed a Circle K early Wednesday morning.

Deputies say the man should be fairly easy to spot courtesy of a cut above his right eyebrow. That cut came courtesy of the 6009 Highway 579 store’s clerk, who reportedly struck the man in the head with a milk crate during the robbery.

The robbery in question began to unfold around 3:11 a.m. Wednesday when a white male, between the age of 40 to 50, entered the store, the sheriff’s office wrote in an email to media. The man was wearing “a plastic grocery bag over his head,” the agency noted. He also had his arm concealed by a blanket.

The suspect, deputies say, demanded money from the clerk, went behind the counter and then began beating the victim. She was struck multiple times in the head, the email said, before being able to secure the milk crate to fight back.

While the clerk’s shot left the suspect with a gash on his forehead, deputies said the man did manage to snag a few packs of cigarettes and some cash before leaving the store. Deputies believe he was on foot.

The clerk has not been identified by the sheriff’s office.

Surveillance video of the crime has not been released by the agency, but deputies did release a photo of their suspect. The man is said to have a thin build and was last seen wearing a black T-shirt and blue jeans. He also has short brown hair and that cut on his forehead.

Anyone who recognizes the man in the photo is asked to call the sheriff’s office at 813-247-8200. Tipsters who want to be eligible for a cash prize are asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-873-8477. Tips may also be submitted anonymously online at www.crimestopperstb.com.

Deputies have not said if the clerk required medical attention after the attack.

Surveillance photo courtesy of the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office

Sign up for the Brandon Patch newsletter and alerts!

Be sure to follow us on Facebook, too!