Robbery suspects posed as police to get into jewelry store, shoot up business

TAMPA - Authorities are searching for four suspects who posed as police to gain entry into a jewelry store Friday morning.

The owner ended up getting into a shooting match with the four suspects before they fled, according to Tampa officials.

Marcelo Suarez, 28, was working in his jewelry store, Marcelo’s Jewelry on West Columbus Drive, when he saw a vehicle pull up to his business on the surveillance system at 8:00 a.m.

The vehicle had flashing police type lights on the dashboard, and Suarez, believing they were police, buzzed the four suspects into the front door. 

The suspects were wearing police clothes. Suarez realized they weren’t police and gunfire was exchanged inside the jewelry store. The victim was not injured.

The suspects are described as four Hispanic males.

They were driving a four door Saturn that was green or blue in color.

Officers are looking for the green or blue Saturn that pulled up and they’re reviewing the surveillance video.