ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (WFLA) — A serial burglar has been caught after St. Pete police said he stole hundreds of dollars’ worth of cigarettes from multiple stores.
Authorities said Jamar Riley, 31, would jump over the counter and take packs of cigarettes, before then fleeing with the stolen merchandise.
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Jamar Riley (Credit: St. Pete Police Department)
Police believe he was responsible for at least four burglaries that took place in St. Pete within the span of a week. The first was reported on Dec. 18 at a Circle K on 5th Avenue North.
Investigators said Riley targeted two more stores on Dec. 22: A smoke shop on 4th Street South, and a Family Dollar store a few blocks away. Riley returned to the same Family Dollar store again on Christmas Eve, according to authorities.
Detectives soon identified Riley as a suspect in the series of burglaries and found and arrested him on Dec. 26. He was charged with strong-armed robbery, attempted robbery, and two counts of burglary, jail records show.
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