Lock Your Cars, Seriously

Air Conditioning Units, Parts Stolen

Tampa Police report that at 4 p.m. Jan. 12 an unknown person entered a vacant house at 1400 E. Mulberry Dr., and stole internal air conditioning parts and copper wire. In addition, two outside air conditioning units were taken. Investigators recovered fingerprints of a suspect, but there were no witnesses.

Honda Reported Stolen

A dark blue 1994 Honda Accord was reported stolen from 100 E. Lambright St. The car disappeared sometime between 11:45 p.m. Jan. 13 and 7:20 a.m. the following morning, according to Tampa Police. The four-door vehicle's right front quarter panel is painted gold and the trunk's paint is faded.

Unlocked Cars Burglarized

Tampa Police report that sometime between 6 a.m. and 10:30 p.m. Jan. 15 a Nissan Altima was burglarized at 1900 Fiesta Ridge Ct. The car was unlocked, and a purse and CD holder were removed, Tampa Police said. Investigators recovered fingerprints of a suspect.

Another vehicle burglary was reported at 1400 Arctic St. Tampa Police said that between midnight and 8:30 a.m. Jan. 15 someone entered an unlocked Saturn Vue and took a GPS device.

Food Mart Worker Robbed in Parking Lot

At about 2:20 a.m. Jan. 15, a staff member at the St. George Food Mart at 7500 N. Florida Ave. had just closed the store and was walking to his car when a man jumped out from behind his vehicle with a handgun, Tampa Police said.

The gunman demanded money and searched the victim's pockets. He left with $200 in cash, a wallet with credit cards and the victim's car and business keys. Investigators searched the area but were unable to find a suspect.

Apartment Burglarized of Electronics, Jewelry

An sliding glass door was found pried open at an apartment at 8800 Crestview Dr. Tampa Police said the door had been opened sometime between 11:15 a.m.  and 4:15 p.m. Reported missing: two flat screen televisions, a computer and  jewelry. No witnesses have come forward, and no serial numbers for the electronics were provided to police by the owner.

Door Kicked In, Would Be Invaders Run Away Laughing

Tampa Police said someone kicked in the front door at 1400 E. Sitka St. at 8:25 p.m. Jan. 17. The resident was home and heard the crash. The suspects ran away when they realized the home was occupied, Police said. Neighbors reported seeing four teens running westbound from the scene.

They were described as black males, standing 5-feet to 5-feet 5-inches tall and wearing blue jeans and dark shirts. They were laughing as they ran, police said. No arrests were reported.

Six Held at Gunpoint in Drug-Related Home Invasion

A home invasion robbery was reported Jan. 18 at 8400 N. Chevalier Ave. Tampa Police were notified shortly after 6 a.m. Investigators said two men and a woman held six people at gunpoint and hit some of the victims with a shovel.

The threesome took wallets, electronis and cell phones, along with marijuana belonging to the victims, police said. No arrests have been reported, as the investigation continues.

Police: Ex Assaults Former Girlfriend

Tampa Police said that at 3 a.m. Jan. 18 a woman who was asleep in her home was confronted by her ex-boyfriend about her new love interest. The suspect had entered the home at 1700 E. Idlell Ave. uninvited and then forced the woman out into the yard , where police said he punched her and knocked her to the ground.

The woman told police that her former boyfriend then took her cell phone before leaving. The cell phone carrier was unable to track the phone. Officers have identified the suspect, but he was not found immediately. However, police said he is known to frequent the area and officers are searching for him for questioning.