Crime & Safety
Serial Burglar Strikes Carrollwood Area
Hillsborough County deputies believe the same person or people may be responsible for several recent business burglaries.

TAMPA, FL — The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office is looking for help identifying a man it believes is responsible for several business burglaries on New Year’s Day.
According to the agency, around 2:30 a.m. on Jan. 1 a burglary spree began in the Carrollwood Shopping Center on North Dale Mabry Highway. Before the spree ended, three businesses had their front glass doors smashed out. The suspect or suspects in the case entered each shop and “rummaged through cash registers and drawers,” the sheriff’s office wrote in an email to media.
Businesses struck included Zoom Tan, Mr. Empanada and The Brass Tap.
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Surveillance from Zoom Tan shows a lone white male using a pry tool to shatter the front door glass. The man is described as being between 5 feet, 7 inches and 5 feet, 10 inches in height. He weighs between 140 and 160 pounds and was last seen wearing a light colored hoodie and blue jeans. He was also possibly wearing cowboy boots. It is unclear if he was working alone or had an accomplice.
Anyone with information about the man or the crimes is asked to call the sheriff’s office at 813-247-8200. Tips may also be submitted anonymously through Crime Stoppers by calling 1-800-873-TIPS (8477) or going online to www.crimestopperstb.com.
Find out what's happening in Carrollwood-Northdalefor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Photo courtesy of the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office
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