Help police nab Friday morning burglars

St Augustine Police have contacted Historic City News for assistance to identify and locate those persons responsible for the burglary of the local Target store located at 1440 US-1 South in St Augustine, in the early morning hours Friday, October 25th.

At 12:51 a.m. a dark-colored sedan drove up to the store, near the south side entrance. Two men were observed walking around the front entrance of the store at 12:55 a.m.

“The Asset Protection department at Target has provided images taken as the crime was occurring,” St Augustine Police spokesman, Mark Samson reported. “The surveillance video is able to establish a timeline for each step of the burglary — from the time the vehicle entered the parking lot to the time it left.”

At 12:56 a.m. the burglars approached the side entrance and began prying at the exit doors with a crowbar — they gained entrance two minutes later. When the thieves entered the store, they were carrying “large plastic totes” with them, according to the statement given by Target to the police.

They seemed to know what they came for. They proceeded directly to the electronics department. The thieves smashed the IPAD, IPOD, and Beats headphones cases; and then placed many of the items into the plastic totes.

Once they had taken their fill of merchandise, both burglars left Electronics and ran back to the entrance. One of the men left the store through the side entrance that was previously used to gain entry. The other exited through the fire exit along the same wall in the “Ready to Wear” department.

The vehicle used in the burglary fled the parking lot at 1:00 a.m. Friday morning.

Anyone with any information concerning this crime or who may know the identity of those involved is asked to contact the St Augustine Police Department at (904) 209-3485. You can remain anonymous and possibly be eligible for a cash reward by calling CrimeStoppers of Northeast Florida at 1-(888) 277-TIPS.