Two men charged in smash-and-grab burglary

Two Broward men have been charged in connection to a smash-and-grab vehicle burglary in Venice, according to the Sarasota County Sheriff's Office.

Derrick Phillips, 33, was charged with burglary of a conveyance, grand theft and providing false information to law enforcement. He is being held at the Sarasota County jail on bonds totaling $3,500. Blunt Cooper, 34, was charged with burglary of a conveyance and grand theft. He is being held on bonds totaling $3,000.

Just after 8 a.m. Monday, deputies received a report of a vehicle burglary at the Sunshine Day Care, 315 Orange Road, according to arrest reports. The victim told deputies that when she walked out of the day care, she saw a red Mercedes leaving the parking lot and then noticed that her side window had been smashed and her purse taken.

Venice police officers spotted the suspected car at the intersection of Lucaya Avenue and Pinebrook Road and pursued the suspects until deputies took over. Deputies followed the suspect’s car to the 1700 block of South Tamiami Trail, where Phillips and Cooper were seen getting out and running into a nearby neighborhood.

Deputies ran after the two suspects and after a short foot chase were able to apprehend Phillips and Cooper, according to reports. Phillips was in possession of an iPhone and other items that were reported stolen during the burglary.

Detectives were able to obtain surveillance video from a nearby business which showed the driver of the red Mercedes drove north towards the Rodeway Inn hotel after Cooper and Phillips got out of the car. Hotel management told detectives that Cooper, Phillips and three others had rented rooms at the hotel the day prior.

The investigation remains ongoing and additional charges are pending, according to the sheriff’s office. Detectives believe Phillips and Cooper could be connected to other crimes in the area.

Anyone with any information about the case is asked to contact the Criminal Investigations Section of the sheriff’s office at 941-861-4900.

This story was originally published July 25, 2017 at 10:33 AM with the headline "Two men charged in smash-and-grab burglary."