The robber gets in through air conditioning shafts to get at small change, leaving behind some major damage.
By NORA KOCHTimes Staff Writer
Published April 2, 2004
PALM HARBOR - The burglar climbed down through a rooftop air conditioner into the French bakery, Pinellas County sheriff's officials say, and stole away into the dead of night with some sodas and change.
But the thief took no pastry, mystifying the owner of Ladyfingers Fine Pastries and More in the Shoppes at Cloverplace on Tampa Road.
"If he ate some pastry, I couldn't blame him for it," said Daniel Delort, the bakery's proprietor.
At the plaza, home to some of the best-known restaurants in North Pinellas, detectives are investigating four rooftop break-ins between Wednesday night and Thursday morning.
After attempting to enter at least four businesses in the center, the burglar's take was a total of about $50 - $25 cash and a like amount in food and bottles of juice and soda, according to detectives.
The Sheriff's Office said that at this time there is no evidence linking the Palm Harbor burglaries to similar rooftop incidents in Pinellas and Hillsborough counties.
So far, the investigation has found that sometime between 9:30 p.m. Wednesday and 4 a.m. Thursday, someone tried to break into the bakery, the Mystic Fish and Blue Heron restaurants and the Surf & Turf Market, officials said.
The intruder did not set off the businesses' alarms, according to the Sheriff's Office.
While the burglar's take was small, damage was significant, especially in the meat market, said manager James Trainor.
The burglar entered through an air conditioner atop a bathroom at the store.
Thursday morning, Trainor found that the bathroom had been destroyed, with the ceiling caved in.
"We would rather them have taken a case of wine, than do all the damage they did," said Trainor, whose brother owns the store.
