Bikejacking, Carjacking Under Investigation

Recent reports from Tampa Police Districts 2 and 3:

June 23

• Between June 21 and 23, a car battery was removed from an unlocked vehicle parked on the 100 block of West Ida Street .
• A residence at the 900 block of East Chelsea Street was entered by a burglar through a rear window. Once inside, the suspect entered the garage and took a 24-foot ladder valued at $250 and left the property.
  
  

June 25

• Tampa Police are searching for a man suspected of stealing a bicycle. The victim was riding his bike to the Taco Bus at 1:18 a.m. to get some food and as he was riding next to the at 1106 E. Hillsborough Ave., a young man told him to give him the bike. The victim refused several times, police said. The suspect then punched the victim several times, causing him to fall. The suspect took the bike and rode away while on another bike. The victim had several scrapes but declined medical attention. The suspect was described as black, 20 years old, 5-feet-8-inches tall, 200 pounds, with a large build, dark complexion, short hair and wearing light colored shorts and a blue sleeveless shirt. The bike was a dark colored BMX type.
• Between noon and 6 p.m., someone threw a block through a rear window at 1513 E. Frierson Ave. and took clothes, shoes and a watch. Some property was recovered at a vacant house on the 1600 block of East Mobile Avenue. Police also found other items that are suspected to have been burglarized from other homes in the area.
• Sometime between June 10 and June 25 at 4:05 p.m., someone entered a home on the 1500 block of East  Shadowlawn Avenue through an unlocked window and opened the rear door. A refrigerator was taken.

June 26

• A carjacking was reported at 1:14 a.m. at 5206 N. 10th St. The victim was confronted outside by the suspects near his 2000 Cadillac, which was running. One suspect hit the victim in the face with the butt of a gun below the right eye. The suspects jumped into the car and drove it north on 10th Street. The victim could offer no other information to police.