Aug. 18, 9:00 A.M.: Officer Tankovich responded to the 900 block of West Gore Street in reference to a commercial burglary and met with a 24-year-old victim. Some time between when the establishment closed at 10 p.m. Aug. 17 and when they reopened the next morning around 5:15, perp(s) unknown stole the victim's toolbox. The officer's investigation revealed that the suspect(s) entered through the rear gate on Piedmont Street, located the victim's toolbox, snagged it, rolled it back out the gate and pushed the box behind a tree. There they removed $1,000 worth of tools but left the $500 box. The officer was able to obtain fingerprints from the scene and the victim "will press charges," reports state.
From a maintenance bay perspective, it would seem more apt for the victim to ask one of his mechanic buddies to borrow a 24-inch fan clutch wrench and hit the streets; alas, it seems we've become a kinder, gentler society.
Aug. 20, 6:59 A.M.: In the 100 block of Columbia Street, where the Center for Drug Free Living is located, suspect(s) unknown attempted to break into the establishment. Or was it sabotage?
Officer Torres met with the 32-year-old complainant and took her statement: "She arrived this morning at 0645 hours. She attempted to unlock the rear door using her key. The key hole appeared to be partially blocked," reports state. The complainant could only get her key halfway into the lock, so it appears something was lodged in the lock cylinder. The interior of the establishment seemed undisturbed, so it appears nothing was stolen. Perhaps — now this is just a theory — someone was not trying to get in, but to keep people out. Places like this are bad for a drug dealer's business and would explain the motive behind a sabotaged lock. Estimated damage: $100.
Aug. 21, 8:39 A.M.: Officer Esan responded to Orlando Fire Station No. 11 on the 4900 block of Curry Ford Road in reference to a commercial burglary. She met with the 25-year-old victim/firefighter about the incident. He explained that he left for a call around 3 a.m. and returned about 3:30 a.m. to find that suspect(s) unknown used an unknown instrument to break his left rear taillight, causing an estimated $100 in damage; there was no other damage to the vehicle.
The victim's vehicle was inside a gated parking lot that was closed and secured when this incident occurred. The report reflects, "Point of entry to the property is unknown at this time." It should be noted, "`The victim` stated the firefighters are the only persons having access to the gate." Curious.
Aug. 21, 8:55 P.M.: A 45-year-old victim was doing his duties with the company forklift when suspect No. 1 crept up from behind him, put a gun to his head and said, "Shut up, get off the forklift," reports state. The victim complied and walked with the suspect toward an open service bay door where suspects Nos. 2 and 3 appeared with pistols in hand. They all went inside the building on the 1900 block of Commerce Oak Avenue. Another employee appeared and the suspects ordered them all to go to the corner, "kneel down and face the wall," reports state. Suspect No. 1 asked the victims where the money and key to the safe were. The victims said they didn't know.
The suspects went to the front office and rummaged through a hanging key rack. Little did they know how close they were: "It should be noted that the floor safe was inside that room," reports state. The suspects hopped from office to office looking for bounty to no avail. Finally, the perps were approached by the 41-year-old manager who had a phone in his hand. This startled the burglars. They fled the building in the same direction they came in and headed west down Brengle Avenue.
Officer Carey's report reflects that once police were notified, "a cordon was established, information BOLO'd, and K-9 Glidden tracked to Brengle Avenue, but met with negative results." The security guard on the scene didn't see or hear anything, but one of the residents in the neighborhood heard someone running through his back yard. Perhaps they should pay the neighbor to run security.
Aug. 22, 11:25 A.M.: Officers Wright and Abraham were dispatched to the 2600 block of North Orange Blossom Trail in reference to a commercial burglary at a custom motorcycle shop. It appears that some time between 2 p.m. Aug. 8 and 11 a.m. Aug. 22, perp(s) unknown gained entry to the locked and secured establishment by unknown means. An inspection of the building's integrity revealed that all windows and points of entry and exit were still secured, "Therefore, entry and exit points could not be determined," reports state. However, there was an estimated $100 in damage to the inside frame of the front door. Another point of curiosity is that the 35-year-old victim/owner noticed the ceiling tiles were out of place and she told police they were intact when she left Aug. 8.
Once inside, the perp(s) rode around on the forklift "for unknown reasons" and left tracks on the dusty floor. They stole a lot of property: eight custom motorcycles valued at $3,500 each; 10 custom motorcycle gas tanks valued at $800 each; and a menagerie of motorcycle parts valued at $3,000. Grand total of the theft: $39,000.
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