Busy Week for Burglars

Recent incident reports released by Tampa Police Districts 2 and 3:

Oct. 24

• A report of an auto burglary at the 7200 block of North Highland Avenue resulted in an arrest. Police said Ramon Sanchez, 40, of 8406 N. Highland Ave., took a camera and watch from the victim's unlocked vehicle that also had its windows rolled down. While tracking another known offender in the area, Sanchez was spotted with him entering a local pawn shop. Sanchez attempted to sell the victim's Nikon camera at the pawn shop and later on the street. Undercover officers arranged to buy the camera from him for $20 at the Sligh Petrol Mart, 401 E. Sligh Ave.  Sanchez was arrested and charged with auto burglary, theft and dealing in stolen property.
• A residential burglary was reported at the 6500 block of North 20th Street. The culprit entered through an unlocked rear window. Reported missing were two flat screen TVs and miscellaneous jewelry. Three men and a woman were seen in the area along with a silver Ford Explorer.
• Police suspect the burglary at North 20th Street is connected to a one reported at the 6900 block of North 21st Street. The culprit entered through an unlocked rear window. Reported missing were three laptop computers, $1,000 in cash, a Sony DVD player, an Xbox 360, a Playstation 2, gold necklaces with crosses and a silver Rolex watch with a gray circular face.
• A residential burglary was reported at the 6700 block of North Dixon Street. After entering via a side window, the culprit took a Specialized Expedition mountain bike that was dark green with a shock on the seat post. A serial number was obtained from the shop where it was purchased. A neighbor's surveillance camera captured images of a man looking over the victim's wooden privacy fence. He was later seen leaving the victim's front yard with the bike and riding north on Dixon.
• Police have two suspects in custody in connection with a burglary reported at the 2000 block of East Broad Street. The suspects smashed a side window. Reported missing were three Elgin watches, an Andre Chevell watch, two gold loop tie clips, two Cobra walkie-talkies and a Masonic ring.
• An auto burglary was reported at the Boys and Girls Club at 1114 W. Sligh Ave. The victim left her purse on the front seat with the window partially down and the door unlocked while she went inside the building. The victim didn't notice her purse was gone until she drove home and was getting out of the vehicle. Also missing was a Garmin GPS unit.

Oct. 25

• An auto burglary was reported at the parking lot of Pure Passion, 8123 N. Nebraska Ave. Someone broke the front driver's side window of a white Ford Expedition. Reported taken was a Sony amplifier and two 12-inch Sony subwoofers valued at $500. The vehicle was parked at the rear of the lot, out of the range of the business' surveillance cameras.
• A robbery was reported at the Dollar General Store at 3502 E. Hillsborough Ave. The suspect concealed multiple items of clothing under his shirt. When a manager tried to stop him, a struggle ensued and both ended up on the floor. The suspect showed a pocket knife and threatened to cut the manager. He threw the stolen clothing on the floor and ran west. The suspect was described as a black male, about 30 years old, 5-feet-6-inches to 5-feet-8-inches tall, with a thin mustache, a black doo rag on his head, a yellow shirt with tan and green stripes, baggy black jeans and black sneakers.
• A residential burglary was reported at the 3400 block of East Diana Street. A neighbor spotted several juveniles in the victim's back yard, but did not call police. When the victim arrived home a half hour later, the rear window was discovered smashed. Nothing appeared to be missing.
• A residential burglary was reported at the 2450 block of East Hillsborough Avenue. A rear window was broken. Reported missing were two Sony Playstation game consoles.

Oct. 26

• A woman reported she was awoken shortly before 1 a.m. by a man coming into her bedroom. She screamed and the suspect ran from the home in an unknown direction. He had entered the home by breaking the east side living room window.