Sheriff’s office seeking information on cigarette bandits
The Tulare County Sheriff’s Office is asking for help from the public in identifying suspects who have been stealing cigarettes from stores around county over the past several weeks.
Since late April, TCSO deputies have responded to multiple burglaries at convenience stores throughout the county. During the course of the investigation, deputies and detectives determined the suspects would break into all of the stores in the same way and target the same type of merchandise. The suspects also dressed in similar clothes each time.
Deputies believe the crimes are related. Here is a timeline of the incidents:
On Apr. 27, around 2:29 a.m., the suspects broke into the Dollar General Store in Pixley and stole approximately $3,250 worth of cigarettes.
On Apr. 30, around 12:34 a.m., the suspects wore similar clothing to the previous burglary on the Apr. 27 and broke into Doc’s Corner in Tulare and took $1,300 worth of cigarettes. They also tried to steal cash from the register.
On June 15, around 3 a.m., the suspects broke into the Chevron at 36005 Hwy 99 in Traver and stole approximately $8,640 worth of cigarettes. They also tried to steal cash from the register. The suspects drove off northbound on Diagonal 39 in a white or light-colored newer Honda with tinted windows.
On June 28, around 2:54 a.m., the pictured suspects broke into the Red Barn at 29615 Road 196 in Exeter and stole approximately $3,000 worth of cigarettes. The suspects
took off in a gray or silver-colored Nissan with a vertical sunroof and a disabled placard attached to the rear-view mirror.
On July 3, around 4:01 a.m., the suspects once again broke into the Chevron at 36005 Hwy
99 in Traver and took approximately $6,700 worth of cigarettes. They drove off in a maroon-colored sedan, possibly a Honda.
Anyone with information about these burglaries or the identities of the suspects is asked to call the Tulare County Sheriff’s Office at 559-7336211 or Tipnow at 559725-4194 or tcso@tipnow. com.