$300,000 Worth of Rolex Watches Stolen from Florida, Sheriff Deputy’s Truck Used in Getaway

[Robbers] got away with about a dozen Rolex watches valued around $300,000, police [in Tampa] said Wednesday. . .

The noise of the thieves hammering the display case sounded similar enough to gunfire that it sent people running from the mall. It prompted what Tampa police said was an “active shooter” response, followed by a flood of false reports over social media that gunfire had erupted.

“We had over 100 law enforcement officers respond to this place. We had the FBI, the U.S. Marshals, the Florida Highway Patrol, Tampa International Airport,” TPD Deputy Chief Brian Dugan said. . .

Police said the suspects fled through the garage in a gray Dodge Ram Sport pickup truck with a black soft cover over the truck bed. They believe the suspects ditched the truck in the International Mall parking lot.

According to the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, the truck belongs to one of their deputies, and it was reported stolen from Brandon Mall Tuesday shortly before the International Mall robbery. (Read more from this story about Rolex watches stolen in Florida HERE).

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