VIDEO: Jewelry thieves smash glass inside mall, Tampa police searching for suspects

Jewelry store smash and grab in Tampa

Evyn Moon reports

TAMPA, Fla. - Tampa police are searching for two people seen on surveillance video smashing glass inside WestShore Plaza Mall and stealing jewelry.

TPD said one of the robbers used a sledgehammer to break into the display case at a jewelry store just before noon Wednesday.

Surveillance video shows WestShore jewelry heist

The Tampa Police Department released surveillance video showing thieves smashing glass inside WestShore Plaza Mall and stealing jewelry on July 31.

The pair also threatened store employees and mall security with pepper spray, according to police.

"Unfortunately, by the time officers arrived, both suspects had already fled the scene," said Verliz Williams, with TPD. "The two suspects are dressed head to toe in coverings. So that's why we need the community's help. Because we need help identifying who these two suspects are. Someone out there knows who they are."

A Bay Area attorney has prosecuted similar cases before and said in this case, it would likely be a robbery and a burglary charge.

"The burglars, when they break through the barriers, when they break the cases, and they take the jewelry, you're committing a grand theft, and then you're breaking into the area by taking the jewelry. And then when they're trying to leave, they're threatening people with pepper spray. They're threatening the mall police, they're threatening employees and that threat of force is now a robbery," said Anthony Rickman, a Tampa attorney.

He said they could likely face at least 15 years in prison.

"Now, the degree of the grand theft will vary depending on how much of the value of the draw that they took. If it's over $100,000, you're looking at a much higher degree than if it's $5,000," said Rickman.

Investigators said the suspects got away in a Chevy Malibu parked outside Dick's Sporting Goods. The car had tinted windows and no license plate.