BROOKSVILLE, Fla – A former employee of Crumbl Cookie in Brooksville was arrested for a burglary that happened on July 20, 2023.
Detectives say evidence gathered from the scene indicated the suspect entered the business through a side door and proceeded directly to the safe and then to the cash register, removing cash from both.
The suspect was described as wearing a black sweatshirt, pants, and red Crocs and was observed carrying a brown and black backpack and a black mask on his face.
Detectives spoke with the manager of the business who told investigators the suspect was possibly Jacob Ortega, 18, a former employee.
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The manager said that while working at Crumbl Cookie, Ortega always wore red Crocs and carried a brown and black backpack.
Video footage was collected from surrounding businesses which showed a vehicle in the immediate area at the time of the burglary. Detectives believed the suspect may have been operating or was a passenger in the vehicle.
On Tuesday, detectives interviewed the owner of the vehicle at his home.
He told detectives he received a call from Ortega around 2 a.m. on July 20,, requesting a ride to the Coastal Plaza (where Crumbl Cookie is located) so he could make a drug deal.
The vehicle owner dropped Ortega off at the plaza and later picked him up near the Home Goods store.
He told detectives that several days later, Ortega told him that he (Ortega) had “obtained money'” from Crumbl Cookie.
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He also told detectives that Ortega placed some of the money inside the vehicle to “hold on to.”
With permission from the owner, detectives checked the vehicle to find a sum of cash in the glove compartment. The cash was taken as evidence.
Later on Tuesday, detectives interviewed Ortega.
During an interview with detectives, Ortega admitted to his involvement in the burglary.
Ortega told investigators that he still had codes to the door, safe, and register from when he was employed there and used the same to gain access to the business and, subsequently, to the cash.
After committing the burglary, Ortega met up with his friend near Home Goods and was taken back to his residence.
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Ortega told detectives he spent most of the money on food and alcohol for himself and his friends and that the rest of it was stored in his friend’s vehicle.
Due to Ortega’s confession, along with the physical evidence collected by detectives, Ortega was placed under arrest and charged as follows:
- Burglary Structure (w/a mask enhancer)
- Grand Theft
- Unlawful Use of Two-Way Communication Device
- Bond – $12,000.
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