Crime & Safety

Shopper Tased, Robbed At Sarasota Square Mall

A shopper was duped by a man saying he locked his keys in the car and tased the victim as he reached for a card to call a Locksmith.

An unsuspecting shopper at the Westfield  was tased and robbed today by a man who told him he need helped with his locked car.

is looking for the suspect who is described as a white male, 28 to 32 years old, 5 feet, 10 inches tall, 180 pounds, dar short hair and white a white T-shirt and long shorts.

The robbery happened at 6:25 p.m. in the parking lot as Douglas Louse walked back to his car and was approached by the suspect, the sheriff's office said.

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The suspect asked for help, claiming he locked his keys in his car. When Louse went to get a card for a locksmith in his car, the suspect tased him, deputies said. The suspect grabbed Louse's cell phone and fled, deputies said.

The man was last seen running south on Potter Park and witnesses said a white Jeep might have been involved, driving along beside the suspect, the sheriff's office said.

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The two-door Jeep had multiple bumper stickers includine one that said "Got Jesus?" according to witnesses.

Anyone with information on this case should call the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Section at 861-4900 or Crime Stoppers at 366-TIPS(8477).


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