Flea market heist staged by determined duo tunneling through wall, Florida cops say

Two determined suspects tunneled through the wall of a flea market and went on a criminal shopping spree that included jewelry, designer purses — and the cash register, according to Florida investigators.

It happened just before 6 a.m. Aug. 5, at Supreme Bargains in Winter Haven, about a 50-mile drive east from Tampa.

Video shared on Facebook by the Polk County Sheriff’s Office shows one of the suspects looked directly into a surveillance camera before deciding to cover his face with what appeared to be a T-shirt.

His accomplice’s disguise was only slightly better: A hoodie and a mouth-held flashlight.

“The two suspects ... entered the store by tunneling through the wall of an adjoining business,” the sheriff’s office said in a news release.

“They filled some bags with jewelry, designer purses, and the cash register, then fled on a bicycle and a U-Haul pulling a trailer.”

The store, located in a strip mall, hosts booths where vendors sell goods ranging from furniture to clothing.

Investigators did not offer a tally for the value of the stolen goods. The sheriff’s office, which asked for help identifying the suspects, did not announce any arrests as of the afternoon of Aug. 12.

This story was originally published August 12, 2024 at 2:39 PM with the headline "Flea market heist staged by determined duo tunneling through wall, Florida cops say."