T-Mobile Store Robbed By 2 Men With Pepper Spray: Sheriff

MANATEE COUNTY, FL — The Manatee County Sheriff’s Office is asking the public for help with identifying two men who robbed a T-Mobile store just after it closed Monday night.

The men entered the cell phone store at 5231 University Parkway just after 8 p.m. as employees prepared to close for the night, MCSO said in a news release.

One man, dressed in black and wearing a face covering, stood at the front door while another suspect, dressed in white and also wearing a face mask, walked over to the counter and began removing cell phones from the display mounts, the sheriff’s office said.

A T-Mobile employee confronted the suspect taking the phones, who threatened the worker with a can of pepper spray, MCSO said.

Like what you're reading? Invite a friend to subscribe to free Bradenton newsletters and real-time email alerts.

The staff member stepped back and both suspects ran from the store with four iPhones. They drove away in a silver Infiniti sedan, the sheriff’s office said.

One of the men was tall and skinny, carried a white purse and can of pepper spray, and wore a white hat, white t-shirt, and white shorts, the sheriff’s office said. The second man was stocky and wore a black -t-shirt and black pants.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the MCSO at 941-747-3011 or Crime Stoppers at 866-634-TIPS (8477).