Serial shoplifters target upscale Las Olas stores in Fort Lauderdale

By Wayne K. Roustan

FORT LAUDERDALE — A trio of shoplifters is being sought after three thefts at trendy Las Olas Boulevard stores in downtown Fort Lauderdale, police said.

The grab-and-go robberies happened Aug. 27, Dec. 1 and Dec. 7, and detectives believe the same three men were involved in a strong arm robbery on Nov. 10 in Delray Beach.

The total take was estimated at $100,000, police said. Two watches worth about $90,000 combined were taken from the Coomi jewelry store and the neighboring Elektrik Boutique was robbed twice with the thieves taking a rack of clothing and a handbag, investigators said.

Surveillance videos show the suspects walking around the stores as if they were shopping. In some cases one would distract the employee while the others grabbed the merchandise and ran.

Police described t he suspects as Hispanic men between 20 and 30 years of age. They wore face masks and baseball caps. At least one man had tattoos covering both forearms.

Investigators are asking anyone with information about the robberies or the identities of the suspects to contact Detective J. Vasquez at 954-828-5645.

Anonymous tips can be given to Broward Crime Stoppers at 954-493-8477 and online at browardcrimestoppers.org or Crime Stoppers of Palm Beach County at 800-458-8477 and online at crimestopperspbc.com.

Wayne K. Roustan can be reached at wkroustan@sunsentinel.com or 561-379-6119 or on Twitter @ WayneRoustan

Three men are being sought for shoplifting in at least three downtown Fort Lauderdale stores and possibly another robbery in Delray Beach.