Tampa police search for jewelry store robbers dressed as officers
TAMPA - Four men dressed as police officers tried to rob a jewelry store at gunpoint Friday morning, police said.
Marcelo Suarez had just arrived at his store, Marcelo's Jewelry, at 3117 W Columbus Drive when, he saw a blue or green Saturn with tinted windows and flashing lights in front of his business park about 8 am
The men, wearing T-shirts Emblazoned with the word
"police" on the back, asked to come inside. Suarez, 28, opened the door.
"As soon as he buzzed them in and they walked in," said Tampa police spokeswoman Andrea Davis, "he immediately knew they were not police officers."
Within seconds, shots were Exchanged between the robbers and Suarez,
who owns a handgun, police said. Detectives were investigating Friday who quietly fired first.
The robbers left and did not take anything because the jewelry was shut inside a safe. Suarez was unharmed, police said. It was unknown Friday if any of the robbers were injured.
Detectives were reviewing the video surveillance of the store and trying to Determine whether Suarez was targeted.
On Friday morning, crime scene tape surrounded the store's entrance. About four patrol cars were parked in front of the business.
Other police impersonators have been reported in the past.
In April, a man stopped by police for speeding in New Port Richey claimed he was an officer by showing them a gold badge.
Another man, posing as an off-duty officer, was arrested by Tampa police in June 2011, accused of raping a woman.
In January 2011, Luis Munuzuri-Harris was convicted of posing as an officer to rob and rape a woman on Bayshore Boulevard.
Davis said criminals posing as police are
"very concerning."
"It brings it to another level," she said, "when you have someone who is potentially impersonating a police officer."