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Police in Florida search for thief behind 12 business burglaries

BOCA RATON, Fla. — Detectives with the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office are sharing surveillance video they say shows a thief who has been targeting businesses in Boca Raton.

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In a Facebook post, deputies shared surveillance video from inside Stallone’s Italian Kitchen, that shows a man using a knife to try to break into what appears to be a cash box. The man in the video can be seen walking through the kitchen with what appears to be a cash drawer and using a knife and spatula to try to force it open.

SMILE YOU’RE ON CANDID CAMERA! Since the late hours of November 2021, there have been 12 reported cases of business burglaries in unincorporated Boca Raton which appear to have been committed by the same guy. The 12 cases occurred on six separate dates. In all of our cases thus far, entry has been made by smashing the glass of the front door by using a tool such as a crowbar/hammer/brick paver etc. and the cash registers are targeted. The first occurred on 11/02/21 after 11pm. The suspect targeted four businesses at two strip malls at the intersection of SW 18th Street/Palm Doro Road, Boca Raton. The second occurred 12/06/21 at approximately 2:40 am. He targeted two businesses on SW 18th Street, Boca Raton. The third occurred on 12/22/21, during the early morning hours. He targeted one business on SW 18th Street, Boca Raton. The fourth occurred on 1/31/22, just before 1:00 am. He targeted a business for the second time on SW 18th Street, Boca Raton. The fifth occurred on 2/02/22, at 1:45 am. He targeted two businesses at 9181 Glades Road, Boca Raton. The sixth occurred 2/05/22, 4:57 am. He targeted a business at 9181 Glades Rd, Boca Raton (second time at this address) and at 6:20 am he targeted a business at 23261 SR 7, Boca Raton. Anyone who can identify this suspect is urged to contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-458-TIPS or you can remain ANONYMOUS by downloading our new app “PBSO” for your Apple or Android Smart Phone and using the “See Something” feature.

Posted by PBSO - Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office on Tuesday, February 8, 2022

The owner of the restaurant told WPBF the thief only got a few dollars in coins, but caused hundreds of dollars in damage. “It’s definitely frustrating,” the restaurant owner’s son, Robert Angelo Stallone, told WPBF. “I hope we catch him. I hope we find out who he is. I hope it doesn’t happen to any other business owners, too.”

Palm Beach County detectives said there have been 12 cases of theft on six separate dates, and in each case the suspect broke into the business through the front door using something heavy like a crowbar and then targeted the cash registers.

Pho Boca was similarly targeted. The restaurant’s head server told WPBF, “We fell on hard times. We’re struggling just to make up for all of our lost money and everything. And then for this to happen, it just kind of sets us back.”