A commercial burglary alarm alerted Bradenton Beach Police Department to a 3 a.m. break-in June 6 at the Coquina Beach main lifeguard tower.
Nothing was taken and no damage was reported.
According to BBPD Sgt. Lenard Diaz, the case report remains open pending fingerprint processing results of 10 prints left on a glass window.
Manatee County Marine Rescue Chief Joe Westerman, who heads the lifeguards on Coquina Beach, received an early morning call to open the locked gate to tower No. 5 to assist in the police investigation.
Three people walking on the beach were questioned and released.
According to the police report, Westerman said the burglars “probably were trying to reach in to unlock the deadbolt and the alarm went off, startling the suspect and forcing a quick exit.”
Diaz said June 19 he was taking the fingerprints to the police lab for testing.
— Kathy Prucnell