Lake City police searching for 5 burglary suspects

LAKE CITY, Fla. – Police are asking the public’s help Saturday identifying five suspects seen on surveillance video burglarizing Buddy’s Home Furnishings, the Lake City Police Department said. 

The burglary was the second attempt at the location in the past two days, police said. 

The surveillance video shows five suspects dressed in hoodies enter the store and run straight to the front counter. One of the suspects was seen putting an item in a black back. Authorities have not said what the item was or if anything else was taken. 

Gil Smith, News4Jax crime and safety analyst and former Jacksonville Sheriff’s officer, said it’s rare for thieves to burglarize a business twice in such a short period of time. 

"It leads me to believe they knew or believe there was cash or something of value behind the counter,” Smith said. “(It) could have been a former employee or customer who had been staking out the place, seeing how they handle cash or valuable items. If this is the second time they hit the store, it seems like the store manager made changes and put things away in an area where they couldn’t find anything of value."

Smith said burglaries are high during the holidays and warns business owners to be on high alert.

He advises managers to lock up money or anything of value when the store closes.

Anyone with information is asked to call Lake City police at 386-752-4343 and ask for investigator Kevin Johns or the supervisor on duty.