CRIME
5 Florida Juveniles Arrested In Ramming Burglaries At Video Game Stores
Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office
Five Florida juveniles were arrested in connection with a string of ramming burglaries at video game stores in the Jacksonville area, authorities said.
The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office said that between Dec. 30, 2023, and Jan. 1, 2024, multiple stores that sell video game equipment were targeted in similar burglaries in which the suspects would drive a stolen vehicle through the front doors to initiate the theft.
Using stolen vehicles, these offenders would drive through the front doors of the businesses, enter on foot in clothing used to conceal their identities, and steal expensive gaming equipment before fleeing, the sheriff’s office said.
A surveillance video shared by the sheriff’s office Wednesday shows a vehicle ramming through the glass front doors of a game store on Dec. 30. The car enters the store and crashes into the front counter before backing out. Five suspects then enter the store on foot and can be seen grabbing armfuls of gaming accessories including headphones and controllers before fleeing.
Detectives worked to identify the suspects and arrested five juveniles between the ages on 13 and 17, the sheriff’s office said.
The value of the merchandise stolen in the burglaries totaled more than $8,000, and damages to the properties amounted to $50,000, the sheriff’s office said.
“Driving cars through business doors to gain entry during burglaries is part of a national trend that young people are learning about online, Sheriff T.K. Waters said in a statement. While it is extremely disappointing to see our youth using social media for self-education in criminal behavior, we cannot and will not tolerate crime in our community, even if those committing them are juveniles.
TMX contributed to this article.
