Who:
Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office
Investigative Operations Bureau
- Burglary and Pawn Unit

Arms for Defense (Victim- Business)
Address: 29176 US Highway 19 North, Clearwater

Suspects-
Three unidentified suspects all wearing dark colored long sleeve hoodies, long pants, and gloves.

Vehicles-
The suspects were seen driving a dark colored Toyota Camry with possible tag containing the numbers “699” and a black 2019 Chevrolet Silverado pick up with a Georgia temporary tag number “P0219923.”

What:
Detectives assigned to the Burglary and Pawn Unit are seeking the public’s assistance in identifying three suspects after they broke into a gun store and stole 27 firearms in Clearwater. 

When:
The incident occurred at about 6:27 a.m. on Tuesday, August 6, 2019.

Where:
The incident occurred at the Arms for Defense gun store located at 29176 U.S. Highway 19 North in unincorporated Clearwater.

Why/How:
Detectives assigned to the Burglary and Pawn Unit are seeking the public’s assistance in identifying three suspects after they broke into a gun store and stole 27 firearms in Clearwater. 

According to detectives, at about 5:51a.m., on Tuesday, August 6, 2019, a dark colored Toyota Camry and a black 2019 Chevrolet Silverado pickup drove into the lot and parked in front of the Arms for Defense gun store located at 29176 U.S. Highway 19 North in Clearwater.

Two suspects were seen on surveillance video exiting the Camry and walking over to the Silverado. One of the suspects looked inside the front windows of the business. The suspects returned to their vehicles, then left the parking lot.

At about 6:21 a.m., the Camry returned to the location and parked in front of the business.

Detectives say that’s when three unidentified subjects exited the vehicle and broke the glass front door to the business.

Surveillance video at the business captured images of the three suspects entering the business and returning to their vehicle with 27 firearms that belonged to the business.

The suspects then left the scene and drove southbound on US Highway 19.

A citizen who was in the area contacted deputies shortly after hearing and seeing suspicious activity at the business.

Deputies circulating the area located the black 2019 Chevrolet Silverado abandoned at a business a few miles away on Boy Scout Road in Clearwater. The Silverado truck was reported stolen out of Polk County earlier the same morning.

Detectives say the suspects on the surveillance video are all wearing dark colored long sleeve hoodies, long pants, and gloves. One suspect had “Nike” on the front of his hooded shirt.

The suspects were seen driving a dark colored Toyota Camry with the tag containing the numbers “699.”

Anyone with information that may assist investigators in this case, is asked to contact Detective D. Heller in the Burglary and Pawn Unit at 727-582-2872 or via e-mail at dheller@pcsonet.com . To remain anonymous and be eligible for a reward contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-873-TIPS or www.crimestoppersofpinellas.org .

Surveillance video and photographs of the suspects can be viewed on our YouTube page here: https://youtu.be/UpXb0yoINus

The investigation continues.