Authorities in Tampa are on the lookout for two individuals following an armed robbery at a local jewelry store. The crime took place at Prince Jewelry within the WestShore Plaza Mall, as reported by Tampa Police Department's news release. The suspects, who have yet to be identified, executed the heist just before the stroke of noon on Wednesday.
According to details provided by the police, the duo was armed not with firearms but with a formidable sledgehammer to smash through the glass barriers guarding the treasures within, accompanied by pepper spray to fend off any would-be heroes. In the scuffle that ensued—where vitrines gave way to the raw force of hammer blows—no store employees nor innocent passersby found themselves inflicted with injury. The scars of this encounter were psychological, imprinted on the storied halls of WestShore Plaza Mall—the scene of a midday disruption.
The suspects managed to depart with a haul of shiny baubles and trinkets, slipping away through the mall's arteries and exiting in a silver Chevy Malibu. The car, described as a newer model with features like a sunroof and tinted windows, lacked one crucial identifier—a license plate. Their escape was briefly framed by the backdrop of Dick’s Sporting Goods, where the vehicle had been stationed.
Both suspects had shrouded their facial contours with coverings, and donned dark clothing from head to toe, obscuring their identities further with gloves and long-sleeved shirts. Tampa Police are now appealing to the public, asking for aid in their quest to apprehend these culprits. Anyone with a whisper of information is urged to contact Tampa Police by calling the non-emergency number at 813-231-6130 or submitting an anonymous tip through Tip411, a feature on the TampaPD app.
