Tampa Police Investigating Robberies, Burglaries

Recent reports from Tampa Police District 2:

May 13

• Tampa Police have made an arrest in connection with a burglary at 8213 N. Hillsborough Lane that happened sometime after 8 a.m. The suspect entered the fenced yard, opened a screen door and stole three fishing rods, police said. A witness saw the suspect leaving with the rods and recognized him as the next-door-neighbor. When the victim came home later that day, the witness told him what happened. The victim called police, who made contact with the suspect, searched his home and recovered the rods.
  
  
• At 9:47 a.m., two weed whackers were taken from an open air trailer in the parking lot of the Salem Baptist Church at 1700 E. Busch Blvd. Police said the victim was working on the grounds when a suspect reached into the trailer and took the Echo brand tools, valued at $360. The suspect left in a vehicle driven by a woman. The victim followed the car to 18th Street and jumped inside. A struggle ensued and the suspect pulled out a pocket knife, police said. Fearing for his life, the victim got out of the with the two weed whackers. The suspect’s vehicle drove away but was later located by police at 2601 W. Mohawk Ave. and was processed for evidence. No description of the suspect or driver were released and no arrests have been made.
  
  
• Two suspects were arrested, including a juvenile, in connection with a burglary at 9307 N. 17th St. that occurred at 10:34 p.m. The house was entered through an unlocked window and the victim’s hearing impaired grandmother was home at the time but did not hear anyone come in. The suspects took a game system valued at $400.
  
  
• Tampa Police are investigating an assault and attempted robbery that happened at 11:13 p.m. Friday in the parking lot of the American Legion at 6918 N. Florida Ave. The victim reported he was walking through the parking lot when he was punched in the right side of his face.  He told police that he did not see where the attacker came from. When he fell to the pavement, the suspect said, “You’re gonna give me your money” and reached into the victim’s back pocket and took his wallet, police said. When the suspect discovered that the victim did not have any money, he ran away. The victim suffered minor cuts and scrapes to his face. There were no video cameras in the area, and no description of the suspect was released. Police said the victim had been drinking before the attack and had waited a while before contacting authorities.

May 14

• Tampa Police are investigating a residential burglary reported at the 900 block of East Hamilton Ave. Sometime after 2:30 p.m., someone broke the glass out of a front door and once inside took the victim’s prescription drugs and $800 in cash from a dresser. No description was obtained and no finger prints were recovered. A search of the neighborhood turned up no evidence.

May 15

• Tampa Police are investigating an attack and robbery that occurred at 3:45 a.m. The victim told police she was walking home from the Sore Elbow bar when she was attached by a man. The man hit her in the right side of the head with an unknown object and demanded money. The woman told him she didn’t have any, he walked away and then came back to kick her two times in the right side. He took her bank card and left. The woman could not remember any information about the suspect. She suffered a contusion to the right side of her head and scrapes and was taken to a hospital for treatment.
  
  
• Investigators are looking for a suspect in a burglary that occurred sometime after 3 p.m. at a residence in the 3600 block of East Lambright Ave. The suspect smashed out a rear window and ransacked the house. The thief made off with money, jewelry and a CD player. Police recovered fingerprints but no suspect description was available.