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This surveillance footage shows two men climbing through a small hole in a door at Best Buy in Central Park. |
BY KEITH EPPS
Police know how thieves made off with more than $20,000 worth of iPods from a local Best Buy early yesterday.
But they don't know who the suspects are.
Fredericksburg police spokeswoman Natatia Bledsoe said officers went to the store in Central Park just after 3 a.m. in response to an alarm activation.
During the ensuing investigation, police found surveillance film from inside the store showing sparks coming through the door.
After about 10 minutes, two men are seen entering the store through a small square hole. They had an empty duffel bag.
The suspects, who wore masks, were inside the store for just over two minutes, Bledsoe said. The alarm went off and the lights came on during the time.
The suspects used bolt cutters to get into a case toward the front of the store where the iPods were. They filled the bag and left the store before police arrived.
Bledsoe said police got the alarm at 3:04 a.m. and the first officer arrived two minutes later.
At the front of the store, someone had spray-painted graffiti on the building and the sidewalk. A bucket of regular paint was also thrown on the store.
Bledsoe said police have determined that the bucket was purchased two days earlier at a Home Depot in Brooklyn, N.Y.
Police believe the vandalism was a diversion intended to keep police at the front of the store.
Meanwhile, footprints in the snow behind the store led to a fence. Police believe the suspects went over the fence to a waiting vehicle on Interstate 95.
Bledsoe said a perfect impression of bolt cutters was found on the other side of the fence.
Anyone who may have noticed anything unusual in the area of Best Buy or on the interstate about 3 a.m. yesterday is asked to call city police at 373-3122.
Keith Epps: 540/374-5404
Email: kepps@freelancestar.com
