FORT LAUDERDALE, FLA. (WSVN) - Police are asking for the public’s help in identifying two men who stole from a Fort Lauderdale Pinch A Penny pool store.
The owner of the store, located in the area of Northeast 11th Street and North Federal Highway, said the theft occurred at around 10:30 a.m., Monday.
He said the crooks took off with two crawlers worth several hundreds of dollars.
Surveillance cameras from a neighboring business captured the men running out to an alley and getting into a parked silver SUV with two pool cleaners worth several hundred dollars.
Another passenger could also be seen in the vehicle assisting the men by opening the car’s back passenger door before they all fled the scene.
The owner of the store, who was not identified or showed his face on camera, said the thieving duo pulled a fast one on his employee.
“It was just the perfect storm. We had our credit card machines down, and he was just writing down manually and working out with the card reader and everything like that, and then we had just the one guy helping them, so they distracted him by sending him to the back,” said the owner. “Getting chlorine, that’s the only place to get it is in the back. As soon as they got him out of the way, one bolted.”
By the time the owner saw the first man run out of the store, he said, it was too late.
“By the time I looked up, I only saw one of the men, and then I noticed, he looked around, picked [a pool vacuum] up and ran out,” he said.
If you have any information on this theft, call Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at 305-471-TIPS. Remember, you can always remain anonymous, and you may be eligible for a $1,000 reward.
Copyright 2024 Sunbeam Television Corp. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.