JENSEN BEACH, Fla. (CBS12) — Newly released video on Thursday captures a glimpse of a burglar involved in a major Nike sneaker theft from a Treasure Coast mall.
Surveillance footage shows the alleged thief dressed in a hoodie, ski mask, orange gloves, pants, and sneakers inside the backroom of the Champs store at Treasure Coast Square. The video is part of an ongoing investigation into a rooftop heist that has stunned local authorities and residents alike.
The Martin County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) said the elaborate burglary occurred sometime between midnight and 8 a.m. Tuesday. Thieves reportedly cut through the concrete roof of the mall, rappelled into the Champs Sporting Goods store, and made off with hundreds of pairs of Nike sneakers.
Investigators say the suspects bagged and tagged the merchandise inside the store before tossing it back through the roof opening to be loaded into a getaway vehicle. In their haste, some of the stolen goods were left behind, offering a glimpse into the scale and speed of the operation.
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Photos from the scene show scattered boxes and merchandise, showing how chaotic the escape was. The sheriff’s office described the crime as something “straight out of a heist movie,” adding, “Not quite the Crown Jewels — but it’s clear these sneaker thieves put the same effort in.”
Detectives are actively reviewing surveillance footage and canvassing the area for leads. The Martin County Sheriff’s Office is asking anyone who saw or heard anything suspicious near the mall during the early morning hours to contact them at 772-220-7060 or reach out to Treasure Coast Crime Stoppers at 1-800-273-TIPS (8477).
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