Police Warn of Emerging Pattern in Residential Burglaries

Tampa Police Department District 2 has seen an emerging pattern in residential burglaries.

According to a crime alert, last Friday, April 7, at about 12.10 a.m., two suspects were witnessed attempting to kick in the front door to a residence in the 6000 block of North Orange Blossom Avenue.

The suspects left walking westbound on West Idlewild Avenue after realizing that they were being watched.

Both suspects were described as two black males in their late 20s, medium build and 5-foot-10. One suspect wore camouflage-patterned shorts and a white T-shirt. The other suspect wore blue shorts and a white T-shirt.

According to the report, a neighbor noted a black male in a maroon, four-door Chevrolet driving slowly through the neighborhood as if “the driver was looking for someone.”

Also, between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. on Monday, April 9, someone attempted to break into the residence in the 1200 block of East Knollwood Street by trying to kick the front door in, but failed and left.

The report says that the two crimes show an emerging pattern as the two residences are within half a mile of each other and just off of North 12th Street, which is a common throughway. Both times, the culprits attempted to gain entry by kicking the front door in.

Please forward all related information regarding persons of interest to Tampa Police Department District 2's Detective K. Nightlinger at (813) 931-6541.

Two unrelated burglaries were also reported on Wednesday, April 4.

A burglary was reported in the 8500 block of North Tampa Street. The culprit entered the residence through a window and took $200 worth of shoes and a black safe valued at $106 containing personal paperwork.

Another burglary was reported in the 800 block of West Kirby Street. The culprit entered an open garage and stole a Raleigh bicycle.