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Polk Deputies: Pickups Used In 5 Smash-And-Grabs

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TBO.com

Published: November 18, 2008

The Polk County Sheriff's Office says it is searching for the thieves who broke into five stores in one week, often using stolen Dodge Ram trucks to smash through doors and windows. Detectives released surveillance photographs of the suspects Tuesday.

The first burglary happened about 4 a.m. Nov. 10, when the thieves used a stolen 1999 silver Dodge Ram to crash though the front door of the Family Food Mart, 329 26th St. in Winter Haven. The truck was recovered at the scene.

Two days later, the thieves used another stolen 1999 white Dodge Ram to smash into the Marathon Food Center, 5900 Lucerne Park Road, about 4 a.m. The burglars got away with an ATM machine. The truck was recovered at Ridge Career Center, 7700 State Road 544. Authorities found the ATM empty in the bed of the truck.

At 2 a.m. Nov. 15, the suspects pried open the burglar bars of the front office door at the Superway Food Store, 2415 Ave. G N.W., Winter Haven, and grabbed money from the cash register, detectives said.

About two hours later, the suspects used a black 2002 Dodge Ram and smashed into the Citgo station at K-Ville and Thornhill roads but did not take anything, deputies said. The truck was found about 5 a.m. at Boswell Elementary School on K-Ville Avenue.

About 7 a.m., deputies recovered a 1996 red Dodge Ram near the front of an apartment complex at County Place and Spirit Lake Road in Winter Haven. Deputies said the vehicle was stolen from Mary's Auto Sales, 2809 Ave. G. N.W., Winter Haven.

At approximately 1:30 a.m. Monday, the suspects used a white Dodge Ram to smash through the front wall of the Island Foodway store, 3344 Winter Lake Road, and stole an ATM. Detectives discovered that truck had been stolen from Michael Holley Chevrolet in Lakeland. It was recovered on Thornhill Road, approximately a half-mile from Winter Lake Road.

Anyone with information about this investigation is urged to contact Detective Don Carter at (863) 297-1100 or (863) 534-6200 or Heartland Crime Stoppers at 1-800-226-TIPS (8477).

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