Classic Cops of the Day: Sarasota

Sept. 14, 2009
Swap meet
7:20 p.m. — 8200 South Tamiami Trail. Grand Theft. Two people approached a jewelry-store counter and asked to see an expensive gold chain. One of the people asked the employee to get a mirror. As the saleswoman reached for the mirror, she heard a pop, which she knew was the tag being torn off the chain. One of the suspects apologized, saying the tag must have come off on its own. A suspect then asked if she could try on the chain, and as she held it, she “accidentally” dropped it. When the suspect picked up the chain and returned it, the employee immediately saw it was not the same chain. The suspects took off, but security guards caught them in the parking lot. They had swapped a $10 gold chain for one that was worth $2,700.