Store on SR 16 burglarized when suspects break in through roof

A St. Augustine liquor store was burglarized early Wednesday morning when suspects got up on the roof, broke into a dental office, cut holes in the wall of the office and snipped the wires to shut off the store security system.

The suspects have not been apprehended.

A release from the St. Johns County Sheriff's Office said employees arrived to work at 8 a.m. at a dental office in the Shoppes at Mission Trace shopping center and discovered what appeared to be a burglary and called the Sheriff's Office.

Detectives soon discovered that someone had taken "hundreds of dollars in high-end liquor and cigarettes" from the State Road 16 Liquor Store next door.

It is believed that the suspects entered the dental office through the roof and then cut holes in the wall to disable the security system of the liquor store. They then entered the liquor store through the ceiling.

Detectives are looking for the occupants of a white BMW that was seen on video surveillance from behind the strip mall. The vehicle was captured several times throughout the night.

The Sheriff's Office said a passenger from the BMW is seen accessing the rooftop. Soon after, a large Isuzu box truck, which was later discovered stolen from a furniture store in St. Augustine, arrived and backed to the rear of the businesses. The furniture was removed from the truck, and the liquor was taken from the store.

There were at least four suspects involved.

The Sheriff's Office is asking for assistance in finding the suspects. The BMW has tinted windows and a sunroof. The box truck may be missing a chrome hubcap and was entered as stolen by the St. Augustine Police Department.

Those with information are asked to call Corporal Tony Matuse at the Sheriff's Office at 824-8304 or CrimeStoppers of N.E. Florida at 1-(888) 277-8477.