Florida

Thieves Hit Miami West Marine in State-Wide Crime Spree

Major boating chain West Marine has been targeted in a crime spree that spans two states and has affected one South Florida store.

Store officials told NBC 6 that four masked suspects recently took everything they could from the West Marine Store on 3635 South Dixie Highway in Miami, breaking in without tripping the alarm.

“We’re talking thousands of dollars, all kinds of marine navigation electronics. Binoculars, fishing reels, sunglasses, all kinds of stuff," said Stephen Otter, with West Marine.

Now the company is willing to pay $5,000 if anyone can help put the suspects behind bars. Otter said they’ve been knocking off West Marines all across Florida and clear up to South Carolina.

"We carry so many of the hot electronics products, cool stuff and that makes us a prime target for it," Otter said. “It seems like they knew what was going on and did some scoping out ahead of time and they definitely seemed like they knew what they were doing.”

In one of the stores the suspects forgot the masks. Stores have been hit in North Palm Beach, Tampa, Winter Haven and Jacksonville.

Anyone with information is asked to call Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at 305-471-TIPS.

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