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Murfreesboro Vape Shop Burglar Identified as Juvenile and Charged

Mar 24, 2025 at 02:34 pm by WGNS News


MURFREESBORO, TN — A “BOLO” (Be On the Lookout) issued by Murfreesboro Police earlier this month has been canceled after authorities confirmed they have positively identified the suspect in a vape shop break-in. According to the Murfreesboro Police Department (MPD),  “A juvenile suspect has been identified, interviewed, and charged with burglary, vandalism, and theft of property in The Laboratory Smoke Shop burglar on March 2.”

Authorities say the vape shop, located on the Downtown Murfreesboro Square, was broken into during the early Sunday morning hours at around 4:30 AM. Police released surveillance footage of the incident in hopes of identifying the culprit—which, surprise, actually worked. Reports indicate the unidentified intruder “carefully” entered the store—right after hurling a rock through the window like a scene from a low-budget heist movie. His method of entry wasn’t exactly graceful, but at least his athletic leap through the shattered pane showed some dedication to style.

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Surveillance footage captured the entire incident, despite poor lighting. The video shows the suspect—referred to as "John Doe"—looking around cautiously before throwing a rock through the window and jumping inside. Once inside, the suspect briefly examined the display cabinets before heading into the store's office. There, he used his cellphone flashlight to search through the desk before leaving with a sack filled with stolen goods.

In addition to the video surveillance, police also had information on the culprit’s getaway vehicle, which the MPD described as a silver mid-size SUV. The burglar made off with an undisclosed amount of merchandise, including THCP vape pens, blunt wraps, and a cash box containing money.

If the suspect is found guilty in a Rutherford County courtroom, chances are he’ll have to come up with a way to pay for the damage he caused—along with the cost of everything he swiped during his not-so-smooth heist.

DISCLAIMER: All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. The arrest records or information about an arrest that are published or reported on NewsRadio WGNS and www.WGNSradio.com are not an indication of guilt or evidence that an actual crime has been committed.

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