Thieves target shoppers at Central Florida malls

Deputies: Thieves responsible for rash of car burglaries

ORLANDO, Fla. – Orange County Sheriff's deputies said two thieves have been targeting shoppers at Central Florida malls.

Adrian Teruel, 20, and Alexis Suarez Hernandez, 19, were arrested Wednesday. The two are responsible for a rash of car burglaries targeting tourists since April, deputies said.

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The two would wait, watch and then follow shoppers before moving in to steal their stuff, according to investigators.

Last week at the Mall At Millenia, deputies caught the two watching shoppers who were purchasing expensive Apple electronics like iPhones and laptops.

Deputies said Teruel and Hernandez have been targeting tourists for some time, watching their next potential victims shop inside the Apple stores at different malls, and then follow shoppers out to the parking lots. Once shoppers would put their electronics inside their cars, the suspects would follow them to their next stop and then break into their cars, stealing their merchandise.

Deputies said the thieves targeted shoppers at the Florida Mall, the Mall At Millenia and outlet malls.


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