Deputies Arrest Brothers Who Robbed Vape Shop

BRADENTON – Due to the ongoing burglary trend involving vape shops, Manatee County Sherrif Department deputies conducted undercover surveillance that led to the arrest of two brothers attempting to rob a Manatee County vape shop. The suspects said they got the idea to break into the City of Vapors store after hearing about the current vape burglary trend.

At approximately 4:10 a.m. on Jan. 2, deputies conducting surveillance learned about a burglary in progress at City of Vapors in the 8300 block of Lockwood Ridge Rd. As deputies approached the business, two suspects took off, running through a breezeway that leads to the rear of the shopping plaza.

After an extensive search and the assistance of a K9, one of the suspects was located while trying to hide, resulting in a K9 bite to his ankle. Minutes later, deputies arrested the second suspect in the 8400 block of Cypress Lake Circle.

The suspects were identified as Elijah Ismael Gonzalez and Noah Isaiah Gonzalez. The brothers were charged with burglary to an unoccupied structure after admitting to deputies they broke into the same store two days earlier. Detectives do not believe they are connected to the same group of suspects that have been hitting vape stores in Manatee and Sarasota Counties over the past two months.

Since November 1, 2022, detectives have investigated eight burglarized vape shops in Manatee County. Detectives continue to follow leads on several of those cases.