5 S. Lake Tahoe businesses burglarized

Several South Lake Tahoe businesses were burglarized this week. Police believe the same suspects – who remain at-large – committed the five break-ins.

On Oct. 22 at approximately 11:15pm officers responded to the Kmart Garden Center. Two suspects smashed the front door glass and attempted to steal the cash registers. They took an unknown amount of cash and fled on foot.

Witnesses described the suspects as males wearing grey hooded sweat shirts.

While officers were investigating that burglary, an alarm at nearby Ponderosa Glass on Emerald Bay Road went off at 11:45pm. The suspects smashed the glass in the front door. Two hundred dollars was stolen.

Officers then discovered a business next door owned by Barton Health had its front door kicked in. At this time it is unknown if anything was stolen from that location.

The following morning Enchanted Florists on Emerald Bay Road and Auto Bazaar on Lake Tahoe Boulevard reported their doors had been smashed. An iPhone was stole from Auto Bazaar and a laptop taken from the florist. Both are in the general area of the other burglaries.

Officers suggest businesses get better surveillance systems or turn on the ones in place.

Sgt. Josh Adler told Lake Tahoe News these incidents are not likely related to the smash and grab at Simpson’s Jewelers earlier this year. It is believed the suspects in that case may be the same ones who were apprehended in a Tahoe City crime.

Anyone with information about these cases should call the South Lake Tahoe Police Department at 530.542.6100 or Secret Witness at 530.541.6800.

— Lake Tahoe News staff report