On January 12, 2026, the Tallahassee Police Department (TPD) arrested four individuals from Texas in connection with a series of burglaries at Family Dollar stores across the southern United States. The arrests followed an investigation that involved multiple law enforcement agencies and the use of License Plate Reader (LPR) technology.
Detectives from TPD’s Criminal Investigations Bureau were alerted by the Pensacola Police Department about a pattern of burglaries targeting Family Dollar locations. Using shared intelligence and LPR data, investigators determined that the suspects had entered Tallahassee and might attempt further burglaries in the area.
TPD worked with other agencies, including the Leon County Sheriff’s Office and the Real Time Crime Center, to monitor the suspects. Officers observed as they cut power to a Family Dollar store and attempted a break-in. The group then moved to another location where a burglary took place.
After this second incident, officers coordinated to block the suspects’ vehicle from leaving the scene. All four individuals were taken into custody. A search of their vehicle uncovered burglary tools and evidence connecting them to the crimes.
“Staying vigilant and being able to quickly identify crime trends is essential to keeping our community safe,” said Chief Lawrence Revell. “By leveraging technology, real-time data, and advanced investigative tools, our officers and detectives can identify patterns, share information quickly, and act decisively. This case is a perfect example of how we can address problems head-on. Let this be a message, Tallahassee is not the place to come to commit crimes and then leave. Through a combination of technology, analytics, and strong partnerships, our officers, detectives, analysts, and partners will find you, and you will be held accountable.”
The police department emphasized its commitment to using technology-driven strategies for policing as well as real-time intelligence sharing with partner agencies. TPD encourages anyone with information related to criminal activity to contact them at 850-891-4200 or provide anonymous tips through Crime Solvers at 850-574-TIPS.
