Man caught on video burglarizing plant nursery

Store manager says burglar came back 3 times in same night

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A man who police say broke into a nursery and hardware store on Jacksonville's Westside made off with more than $1,000 worth of merchandise and kept coming back for more, the store's manager said.

Now police are searching for the culprit.

Jim Boyle, the manager of Hall's Nursery and Ace Hardware on Blanding Boulevard, said he hopes someone will recognize the burglar in surveillance videos from the business.

"It is extremely odd that someone would come to enhance their landscape,” Boyle said.

Boyle said his surveillance video captured a man stealing about $1,100 worth of merchandise Wednesday night.

The man broke in three times in one night, parking in the back lot and jumping over the fence.

A security sign is posted and also a warning sign that reads “Audio/video recording in progress,” but that didn't keep the burglar at bay, Boyle said.

"It's extremely frustrating, extremely frustrating,” Boyle said.

In the video, the man is seen taking his time picking out roses, a basket plant and a tool chest. He returns several times, even making off with a large wooden swing.

"It's a waste of a day for me, because I have to deal with the police, I have to deal with videos, I have to try to find fingerprints,” Boyle said. “It's our business. It's our livelihood, and for them to come in and do this, eventually we'll find him."

And it wasn't the first time the store was hit by a burglar. Another man broke in two weeks ago.

Boyle said officers from the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office frequently patrol the area, and he can't believe that the thief was able to return several times, filling his truck with plants, while people continuously drove by on Blanding Boulevard.

"I would kind of hope maybe the community could be a little more vigilant and help us keep an eye, and if they see something unusual, call police,” Boyle said.

Anyone who recognizes the man in the surveillance videos or knows anything about the burglaries is asked to call JSO at 904-630-0500 or Crime Stoppers at 866-845-TIPS.