The Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office is asking for the public’s assistance to identify a suspect who burglarized two businesses and stole two vehicles including thousands of dollars in equipment.

Deputies were first called to Steel Products, Inc. located at 1821 Myrtle St. in Sarasota, on Saturday just before 8:30 p.m. for a report of a burglary. According to the caller, the overhead door to the business was damaged and left open. When the owner arrived, he confirmed a 1997 white GMC truck and more than $30,000 in welding equipment was missing. Surveillance video shows the suspect arrive around 7:00 p.m. and use a ‘Waterproofing Contractors’ van to ram the doors to the business. The suspect wore a hoodie and pants and walked with a distinctive limp, before leaving the business in the stolen flat-bed truck.

Through investigation, deputies quickly located the van nearby with damage to the passenger window and bolt cutters in plain view. Deputies responded to Waterproofing Contractors located at 4475 Northgate Ct. in Sarasota to notify the company of the recovered van. Upon their arrival, deputies discovered evidence of another burglary. According to an employee, two of the company’s vans were broken into and a third was missing along with more than $1,000 in tools.

On Monday, detectives recovered the stolen flat-bed truck at the intersection of 22^nd Street and N. Lemon Avenue in Sarasota, stripped of its equipment.

Anyone with information regarding the suspect is asked to contact the Criminal Investigations Section at 941.861.4900 or submit an anonymous tip through Crime Stoppers of Sarasota County by calling 941.366.TIPS (8477), or online at www.sarasotacrimestoppers.com. Surveillance video of the incident can be viewed on the sheriff’s office YouTube channel at YouTube.com/SarasotaSheriff.