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Crime journal

By TIMES WIRES
Published March 28, 2007

TAMPA

MAN SOUGHT IN HOLDUPS OF 3 RESTAURANTS

The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office is looking for a man who has robbed three restaurants and a cash advance store in the Carrollwood area in recent weeks. Since Feb. 21, he has hit the China Jade on Gunn Highway and a Pizza Hut and Fu Wan Restaurant, both on Anderson Road. His most recent robbery came Saturday, when authorities said he struck the Advance America at 12014 Anderson Road. The robber implied he had a gun, demanded money and, after receiving an undisclosed amount, ran from the business. He is described as white, 40 to 50 years old, 5 feet 9 to 5 feet 11, with collar-length dark blond hair. He was last seen wearing blue jeans, a blue T-shirt and a blue baseball cap. Anyone with information can call the Sheriff's Office at (813) 247-8200 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-873-8477.

HUDSON

Woman arrested in carpet scheme

The customers had picked out their carpet and it was time to pay. Except instead of making out their checks to the Carpet Store at 12042 U.S. 19 in Hudson, authorities say, an employee told them to write their checks to her. Nine of them did. A 10th handed her cash. The Pasco County Sheriff's Office says Eugenia Marie Oshea pocketed $6,967 from the faux sales over the past 11 months. And the duped customers? Six didn't receive their carpeting and four got partial installations. Oshea, 47, of Port Richey, was arrested Monday on a charge of scheme to defraud. She was released the same day on $5,000 bond. A woman who answered the phone at the store Tuesday declined to comment.

TAMPA

Victim identified in hit and run

Tampa police have identified the man who died in Saturday's hit and run at Nebraska Avenue and Broad Street. Marc Joseph McQuillen, a 43-year-old homeless man whose family lives in Philadelphia, was walking west across Nebraska Avenue Saturday night when a car hit him and fled. McQuillen died at St. Joseph's Hospital later that night. Police are still searching for the driver. She is described as a 19- to 25-year-old black female with shoulder-length braided hair. Her car is described as a 1990-95 midsize car, possibly a Toyota, light tan in color with tinted windows and possible front-end damage. Anyone who may have seen this accident or knows the identity of a suspect can call Tampa police at (813) 276-3586.

[Last modified March 28, 2007, 00:27:44]