Goofy burglary involved 3 siblings tunneling into a grocery store, Florida cops say

Tunneling through walls is a classic prison-break tactic, but three Florida siblings decided it might also work for a grocery store burglary, according to detectives.

The time-intensive plan did eventually pay off — but the trio forgot about the store’s surveillance cameras, the Bradford County Sheriff’s Office reported in a news release.

It happened early Friday, July 12, at Edwards Grocery outside of Starke, about a 45-mile drive southwest from Jacksonville.

“By piecing together the crime scene and portions of available surveillance footage, detectives soon learned that the suspects had worked together and used a sledgehammer to break their way through a concrete wall under the cover of darkness,” the sheriff’s office reported in a Facebook post.

“Once inside the store, the criminals looted and vandalized the store before making off with approximately $15,000 in stolen cash and goods in less than 10 minutes.”

Detectives were able to identify the suspects as a trio of siblings (two men and a woman) and tracked them down at different locations, officials said.

The three — ages 44, 34 and 31 — were arrested and charged with burglary of dwelling causing damage over $1,000, criminal mischief over $1,000 and grand theft, the sheriff’s office said.

Details of how long it took to create the tunnel were not revealed, but photos show it led the suspects directly into the back of a sink, which they shoved out of the way. The hole just missed a water line and electrical outlet, photos show.

This story was originally published July 15, 2024 at 7:22 AM with the headline "Goofy burglary involved 3 siblings tunneling into a grocery store, Florida cops say."