TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Lakeland Police: Robber Rushed To Best Buy

ADVERTISEMENT

TBO.com

Published: April 2, 2008

LAKELAND -- At least one of the men accused of luring a Lakeland real estate agent into a Tuesday afternoon robbery at a rental cottage used the woman's credit card at a Best Buy store within an hour of the midday attack, police said.

"He went right from the robbery to the Best Buy," said Lakeland police spokesman Jack Gillen.

A surveillance video image shows the man, described as the younger of the two suspects, using the woman's credit card at 12:57 p.m. However, the image of the man is not clear and of little use to investigators, Gillen said.

He said the man appeared to have tried to conceal his identity.

"It appeared he had changed clothes and put on a baseball cap," Gillen said. It was not clear if the other suspect went to Best Buy as well."

The men remain at large, possibly in possession of the victim's green 2006 Nissan Altima, Gillen said, adding that investigators have few leads.

They are considered armed and dangerous. Both are described as white. One of them is thought to be in his 40s, clean-shaven, with white hair down to his collar and a heavy Southern accent. He is about 6 feet tall and 220 pounds, with a prominent "beer belly," according to police.

The second man is in his mid-20s and is 5 feet, 11 inches tall and 150 to 160 pounds. He has a thin build and a thin mustache.

Police say the two men posed as customers and then ambushed and robbed the real estate agent at the cottage she owns on South Boulevard in Lakeland.

The real estate agent is not being identified because her attackers remain at large.

Police say the men contacted the woman by phone and expressed an interest in renting the cottage. They arranged to meet, and when the agent arrived, two men were inside the cottage. After a few moments of small talk, the men overpowered the agent with a utility knife. The agent was tied up but was not hurt.

The men stole the agent's car and her credit cards, police say.

On Wednesday, the Lakeland Association of Realtors issued a memo to its members notifying them of the attack and offering security tips in dealing with potential buyers.

The victim, who declined to comment today, is described by associates as a veteran real estate agent.

Anyone with information about the case can call Detective David Anderson at (863) 834-8958 or Detective Scott Kercher at (863) 834-8973.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT