'Good Samaritans' Help Catch Jewelry Store Robbers: Sheriff

CITRUS PARK, FL — The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office said two men accused of robbing a jewelry story in Citrus Park were arrested over the weekend with the help of some "good Samaritans."

Shortly after 8 p.m. on March 7, the sheriff's office said Willie James Harvey Junior, 25, and Kawaun Martez Thompson, 23, entered the Jared Galleria of Jewelry at 8104 Citrus Park Drive in Citrus Park. Thompson pulled a sledgehammer from his sweatpants and handed it to Harvey. Thompson then took a canister of pepper spray and pointed it at a store employee.

Both men demanded that all store employees get on the ground as Harvey began shattering the glass in the jewelry display cases. The robbers put about $100,000 worth of jewelry into a blue pillowcase before running out of the store. They drove away in a rented black four-door Hyundai Elantra.

Witnesses, who had left the jewelry store just before the robbery, saw the crime take place from inside their vehicle in the store parking lot. They called 911 and then followed the robbers' car until deputies pulled the car over at the Wilsky Professional Park business plaza.

Harvey was arrested without incident and Thompson was taken into custody after a short foot pursuit. Both are facing charges of robbery with a weapon and criminal mischief. Thompson is facing an additional charge of resisting an officer without violence.

“The customers who helped lead deputies to these suspects are heroes. We are thankful that these good Samaritans didn’t simply walk away, but instead followed the guidelines of ‘See something, Say something,’” said Sheriff Chad Chronister. “We ask all of our citizens, if you see something that doesn’t seem quite right, say something by alerting law enforcement. Doing just that is the reason why two dangerous individuals are now off of our streets and thousands of dollars in jewelry have been recovered.”