Tampa's 'Cigarette Bandit' hits 15th convenience store

A man police call the "Cigarette Bandit" struck for the 15th time early Tuesday, stealing 68 cartoons of cigarettes from a South Tampa gas station, according to police.

Police say the unidentified man has stolen more than $30,000 in cigarettes from 15 South Tampa gas stations. The most recent incident happened between 5:15 and 5:45 a.m. at Rainbow Food Mart, 1421 S Howard Ave., which has been hit twice before.

Police believe he is turning around and selling the cigarettes on the street.

He targets South Tampa businesses, smashing or prying his way in during the early morning hours.

He was described as black, between 40 and 50 years old, about 6 feet 2 and between 200 to 240 pounds. He sometimes wears gloves and a baseball cap during the burglaries, according to police.
Here's a list of the other businesses police say have been targeted:

• Dec. 25: Sweetbay Supermarket, 2100 W Swann Ave. Man took 20 packs of Newport cigarettes.

• Dec. 17: BP gas station, 301 N Dale Mabry Highway. Man took six cartons.

• Dec. 12: 6818 N Armenia Ave. Man took 40 cartoons.

• Dec. 4: Rainbow Food Mart, 1421 S Howard Ave. Man took unknown number of cigarettes.

• Nov. 27: Westshore Foodmart, 3446 S West Shore Blvd. Man took 96 cartons of Marlboro cigarettes.

• Nov. 25: Farm Stores, 3815 Manhattan Ave. S. Man took 25 cartons of cigarettes.

• Nov. 23: Farm Stores, 3815 Manhattan Ave. S. Man took 40 cartons of cigarettes.

• Nov. 22: Farm Stores, 3111 Bay to Bay Blvd. Man took 75 cartons of cigarettes.

• Nov. 22: BP gas station, 301 N Dale Mabry Highway. Man took an unknown number of cigarettes.

• Nov. 20: S&S Food Mart, 3318 Henderson Blvd. Man took 15 cartons of Marlboro cigarettes.

• Nov. 13: Citgo Quick Mart, 6101 Interbay Blvd. Man took 20 cartons of assorted cigarettes.

• Nov. 11: Rainbow Food Mart, 1421 S Howard Ave. Man took 71 cartons of Marlboro Lights, Black & Milds, Newports, Camels and Parliments.

• Nov. 4: S&S Food Mart, 3318 Henderson Blvd. Man took 20 cartons of Marlboros, Newport and 305s.

• Oct. 30: Farm Stores, 3111 Bay to Bay Blvd, Man took 40 packs of Marlboro Lights