Crime Blotter: Thieves Strike at Velo Champ and The Independent

Feb. 14

• Police arrested and charged Jeffery Hayes, of 2408 E Annie St., with burglary and grand theft. Over a 24-hour period, police say, Hayes entered an unoccupied residence through an unlocked rear window multiple times and stole many items. Hayes, 52, is currently held in jail on $9,500 bond.

Feb. 17

• Police are searching for two robbery suspects after they allegedly drove a Pinellas County man to Tampa, stopped the car at East Jean and North King streets, pointed a pistol at him, then severely beat him after he lunged for the gun. The suspects then took approximately $900 from the victim, started to drive away, almost hit a telephone pole, then for unknown reasons stopped the car and fled the scene on foot. The victim was taken to St. Joseph's Hospital with non-threatening injuries, according to police. The victim described the suspects as "Pancho," a black male, early 20s, with shoulder-length dreadlocks, and "Keith," black male, 210 pounds, 5-foot-9, with a shaved head and gold teeth. Investigators seized and impounded the suspects' vehicle, a 1997 silver Audi, FL tag 7624JM.

Feb. 18-21

• The front door was pried open on a residence on the 700 block of East Seward Street. An Xbox, Xbox Kinect, and 32-inch Emerson flat screen TV were stolen. Investigators lifted a fingerprint at the scene.

Feb. 20

• Someone threw a plant through a glass front door at The Independent bar and cafe, walked inside, and stole 15 to 20 cans of beer and three iPods.
• Somebody smashed through the front window of Velo Champ bicycle shop at 6112 N Central Ave., and stole a bicycle. Police say a witness jogging by saw the suspect in front of the shop and described him as a white male, 5-foot-4 to 5-foot-5, 160 pounds, stocky build, 20 to 25 years old, wearing dark pants, black sweater hoodie, and black baseball hat. The bicycle was recovered at 6102 N Central Ave., and investigators lifted fingerprints from it.