Two suspects targeted a business on Old St. Augustine Road not once but three times over a span of three days in October, and the owner eventually had to confront them in person after spotting their faces on surveillance video. The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office is now asking the public for help identifying the pair, who have not been named or arrested.
According to the Jax Sheriff's Office
, the trouble began on October 18, when the two suspects pulled up to the business and made their way to the front of the store. One suspect used a window breaker to shatter the glass on the front door, then reached through the burglar bars in an attempt to unlock it. Both suspects left after failing to get inside.
About an hour later, they returned to the same business. The suspects broke the window above the front door and boosted each other in an apparent attempt to climb through it, before leaving again without getting inside, per the sheriff's office account.
Owner Recognizes Suspects From Surveillance Footage
Two days later, on October 20, the same two suspects came back — this time during business hours. The store owner recognized them from surveillance video of the earlier break-in attempts and asked them to leave. The suspects complied, walking out before officers could arrive on scene.
The sheriff's office is asking anyone who recognizes the suspects to come forward, and anonymous tipsters can call First Coast Crime Stoppers at 1.866.845.TIPS, with the possibility of a cash reward for eligible tips.
A Separate Burglary on St. Augustine Road
A separate burglary occurred elsewhere on St. Augustine Road. Jacksonville police sought a person of interest accused of entering a fenced area in the 4000 block near Moseley Street and stealing equipment from several company vehicles, according to First Coast News. That case is separate from the Old St. Augustine Road incidents and does not establish a broader pattern tying the two together.
For now, investigators are relying on the public to help put names to the faces caught on camera during the repeated attempts. Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the sheriff's office or submit an anonymous tip through Crime Stoppers.
