'Cigarette Bandit' hits another store

For the 15th time, a man police call the "cigarette bandit" struck again, this time stealing 68 cartons of smokes Tuesday morning from a South Tampa convenience store. He just can't kick the habit: Police say that, so far, he has stolen more than $30,000 worth of cigarettes from South Tampa gas stations and convenience stores. Police believe he is targeting businesses in the early morning hours, smashing or prying his way inside. Then, authorities believe, he's turning around and selling the cigarettes on the street. The most recent burglary was around 5:30 a.m. Tuesday at Rainbow Food Mart, 1421 S Howard Ave. The burglar is described as between 40 and 50 years old, about 6-feet-2 and between 200 and 240 pounds. He sometimes wears gloves and a baseball cap during the crimes. Tampa police ask anyone with information to contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-873-8477 or Tampa police at (813) 231-6130.

Couple sues IRS, gets their refund

Trying to claim a $2,513 tax refund that the IRS would not budge on after an identity thief filed a fake return, a Largo couple took the matter to federal court last week. Days later, the refund has come through. The couple, Jay and Christine Gordon, learned that someone had filed a fraudulent 2010 return using Jay Gordon's identity. They later filed a real one. But their attorney, James A. Staack, said the IRS was sitting on the refund and filed the lawsuit in federal court in Tampa to get it. On Friday, while checking their bank account, Christine Gordon discovered the refund had been deposited. Staack said the couple received $2,570 — more than they were owed most likely due to interest. It's unclear if the Gordons will continue with the suit, which seeks class-action status. "The Gordons are no longer good plaintiffs because they received payment (and) the other side will argue they don't have standing," Staack said. But others also have come forward, interested in joining the suit. "We're contemplating amending the suit," he said.

Park's ice rink sees fewer skaters

Just over 20,000 skaters hit the ice rink at Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park over the holidays — about 2,600 fewer than last year. Kitty Lyons, executive director of Friends of Tampa Recreation Inc., attributed it to several factors, including warm weather and a perception by some parents that Occupy Tampa protesters also in the park would hassle their children. She said an informal poll of mothers' groups found that some parents believed the park was filled with protesters who'd block the ice rink. In reality, she said, "it was 10 people" who typically were there. The ice rink opened in early November and closed New Year's Day.

Jan. 25 deadline for ballot by mail

The last day to ask for a vote-by-mail ballot to be delivered by the Hillsborough County supervisor of elections for Florida's Republican presidential preference primary is Jan. 25. After that, registered voters can visit any of four supervisor of elections offices in Hillsborough in advance of the Jan. 31 election. It's a closed primary — meaning, in this instance, that only Republicans can cast ballots to select candidates. As of Tuesday afternoon, the elections office has mailed out 9,419 vote-by-mail ballots. Voters can request and track the status of their vote-by-mail ballots by visiting VoteHillsborough.org.