Caught on Tape: Man Robs Clerk with Fillet Knife

ST. PETERSBURG, FL-- In a struggling economy, detectives are seeing more and more criminals committing bold acts to get cash.

Case in point: a young man who went on a robbery crime spree in Pinellas County over the course of 12 hours on June 25th.

Detectives say their mystery man made a big mistake. He is seen all over surveillance cameras in every single robbery. You can see his distinctive facial features on tape. In addition, he used the same fillet knife during each crime.

At around midnight, he is seen on surveillance at the Haines Road Corner Deli in Pinellas Park wearing a hooded sweatshirt with the knife in his hand. He leaves with cash after threatening the clerk.

Just hours later, the same guy is caught on tape at a Rally Gas Station in South Pasadena. Again, he is seen threatening the young clerk, who detectives say was terrified. The man is seen walking away with a wad of cash in his hands.

Then, around noon, the crime spree ends up at a Payless Shoe Source in St. Petersburg. In the video, he is seen acting nervous and speaking in a high-pitched voice. Once again, the same fillet knife is used.

Corporal Rob Snipes from the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office is investigating the case.

"We don't know if this was a prank with friends, deciding if this was going to be fun or if that was someone who had a moment of desperation for drugs," Cpl. Snipes says.

The physical characteristics are what detectives are hoping will break this case wide open. On surveillance, the man is seen with a huge tattoo of a dragon on his forearm that stretches all the way to wrist and wraps around it. He is seen using the same knife over and over.

He also has close-cut black hair. In the audio, detectives say you can hear him talking with a Spanish accent.

Cpl. Snipes feel good about the case. "I think there's a good chance of solving this case based on the video."

There is up to $1,000 in reward money in this case.

If you know who this young man is or have any information on the case, please call Crime Stoppers of Pinellas County at 1-800-873-TIPS. CLICK HERE to submit a tip online.