Fort Pierce police are investigating burglaries of two downtown businesses early Tuesday morning, where suspects targeted cash registers and fled with money.Julio Garcia, owner of Downtown Sports Nutrition, demonstrated how the burglars broke into his business.”All you have to do is grip it and pop it right out. This will pop right out,” Garcia said.He has since repaired and upgraded his security features, explaining, “This turns now and if they try and grab it they can’t break it off. This is a new, like, safety, a new feature.”Garcia expressed his frustration while maintaining a positive attitude. “This is a supplement shop. I’m here to help people get on their right track, and for someone to come in and take some cash out of our drawers and cause us to spend money out of our pockets, it’s very unfortunate, but we keep a good mindset and try not to let it get us down,” Garcia said.The suspects also targeted the neighboring business, The Hippie Hut, using similar tactics.”Hit them first and then they came across and popped both of the locks, b-lined it to the register back there,” Hippie Hut manager Ethan Gunther said. Gunther said they have made security upgrades.Your neighborhood: Local coverage from WPBF 25 News “Actually, around five in the morning after that incident, we ended up getting a new lock and everything like that. We’re also taking measures on the security side, but there’s only so much you can do, especially at the speed they took the stuff,” Gunther said.Police reported that the suspects were last seen on video fleeing westbound on Avenue A across the tracks. They hope someone will recognize the men in the footage.”I’m sure that people walk certain ways, there are certain statures that people have that may be recognized by someone they may know,” Maj. Michael Santiago said.Expressing disdain for such crimes, Santiago added, “I don’t like crimes like this because people really work hard for their stuff and for somebody to just take it’s a not good thing.”Police have increased patrols.”We also have specific units that are strategic in trying to identify criminals such as this based on patterns, so we have an all-encompassing approach to trying to address these issues and hopefully in the future prevent them,” Santiago said.Authorities are urging anyone with information to contact detectives as they continue to track down leads.Stay up-to-date: The latest headlines and weather from WPBF 25
Fort Pierce police are investigating burglaries of two downtown businesses early Tuesday morning, where suspects targeted cash registers and fled with money.
Julio Garcia, owner of Downtown Sports Nutrition, demonstrated how the burglars broke into his business.
“All you have to do is grip it and pop it right out. This will pop right out,” Garcia said.
He has since repaired and upgraded his security features, explaining, “This turns now and if they try and grab it they can’t break it off. This is a new, like, safety, a new feature.”
Garcia expressed his frustration while maintaining a positive attitude.
“This is a supplement shop. I’m here to help people get on their right track, and for someone to come in and take some cash out of our drawers and cause us to spend money out of our pockets, it’s very unfortunate, but we keep a good mindset and try not to let it get us down,” Garcia said.
The suspects also targeted the neighboring business, The Hippie Hut, using similar tactics.
“Hit them first and then they came across and popped both of the locks, b-lined it to the register back there,” Hippie Hut manager Ethan Gunther said.
Gunther said they have made security upgrades.
Your neighborhood: Local coverage from WPBF 25 News
“Actually, around five in the morning after that incident, we ended up getting a new lock and everything like that. We’re also taking measures on the security side, but there’s only so much you can do, especially at the speed they took the stuff,” Gunther said.
Police reported that the suspects were last seen on video fleeing westbound on Avenue A across the tracks. They hope someone will recognize the men in the footage.
“I’m sure that people walk certain ways, there are certain statures that people have that may be recognized by someone they may know,” Maj. Michael Santiago said.
Expressing disdain for such crimes, Santiago added, “I don’t like crimes like this because people really work hard for their stuff and for somebody to just take it’s a not good thing.”
Police have increased patrols.
“We also have specific units that are strategic in trying to identify criminals such as this based on patterns, so we have an all-encompassing approach to trying to address these issues and hopefully in the future prevent them,” Santiago said.
Authorities are urging anyone with information to contact detectives as they continue to track down leads.
Stay up-to-date: The latest headlines and weather from WPBF 25
