BOCA RATON – Four masked thieves stole $8,000 worth of cigarettes from a Boca Raton Publix, police said.

The burglars broke through the front entrance of the store, in the 7400 block of North Federal Highway, at about 1:10 a.m. They cut a padlock, pulled apart the metal grates and smashed the glass doors, police spokeswoman Sandra Boonenberg said.

They smashed an exterior surveillance camera and fled in a dark SUV, possibly a Ford Expedition, driving west on Hidden Valley Boulevard with an estimated 160 cartons of cigarettes.

Police are investigating whether this case is related to another incident on Aug. 9 in which a thief took $1,500 worth of smokes from a CVS in the 100 block of West Camino Real.

In May, there were two other similar burglaries in the city — one each at the CVS and Publix, police said.

Anyone with information on this case is asked to call Detective Tim Kurdys, 561-338-1377, or Crime Stoppers, 800-458-8477.

source: http://www.sun-sentinel.com

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