The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office is searching for two suspects that crashed a van into an Odessa convenience store early Friday. 

  • 2 suspects sought in failed smash and grab
  • Day care center van stolen in Tampa, crashed into Odessa store
  • Van became stuck, suspects ran off

According to deputies, a Ford van stolen from the Land of Learning Academy day care in Tampa just before 2 a.m. was later crashed into the store front of the Sunoco Gas Station at 8402 Gunn Highway. 

Deputies said the suspects used the van to back into the front of the business, smashing the glass windows on the front of the store at 2:17 a.m.  

It appears the suspects were utilizing the stolen vehicle to gain access into the ATM located near the front door.  

After smashing into the building multiple time with the van and knocking over the bolted ATM, the stolen van became wedged inside the building on top of the ATM. The ATM remained within the Sunoco and no items were stolen. 

The suspects then fled the scene.

The suspects are described as: 

  • 5'8"-5'10", 170 - 180 lbs.,  wearing a black ski mask covering their face,  gloves, long sleeve tan flannel shirt, black pants, white and black high top sneakers.

  • Black male, 6'0 - 6'2", 180-190 lbs.,  wearing a black cloth ski mask covering his face, gloves,  wearing a long sleeve gray shirt, black gym shorts,  gray Nike sneakers and dark color socks.

Anyone with any information reference these suspects is asked to call the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office at 247-8200 or anyone with any information regarding the identity and whereabouts of these suspects and who wants to be eligible for a cash reward is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-873-TIPS (8477), report anonymously online at www.crimestopperstb.com or send a mobile tip using our P3 Tips Mobile application, which is a free download for iPhones, iPads and Droids. 

You must call Crime Stoppers first to be eligible for a reward.