Jewelry burglars hit two stores in one night

ZEPHYRHILLS (FOX 13) - Investigators are looking for a group of smash-and-grab burglars suspected of hitting two jewelry stores early Thursday morning.

The business off Gall Blvd was hit around 3:30 a.m. 

"They don't have no feeling or thought about people's hard work," the owner, who doesn't want to be identified, told FOX 13.

He moved from Miami to get away from crime.

"It's a retirement store for me and my wife. It was a mom and pop," he said. "I thought it would be a safer area, then this kind of thing happens."

Five intruders wearing hoodies and gloves with their faces covered grabbed whatever they could and left. In a rush to get out, one dropped a cell phone, which police now have.

Two hours later, again, five thieves attempted a smash-and-grab at Max Jewelers at Lakeside Village in Lakeland. They must have been disappointed. The owner had put all his high-dollar items in a safe - as he does every day. So they didn't get away with anything.

The owner thinks the thieves were frustrated and, out of anger - smashed a showcase with inexpensive jewelry on the way out.

Unbeknownst to them, someone just happened to be around while the thieves were in the store.

"There was an eyewitness, but we're not going to say what he observed," said Sgt. Gary Gross of the Lakeland Police Department.

Police are looking for two vehicles in connection to the Zephyrhills break-in. a dark sedan and a white, extended cab pick-up.