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Miami Police Impersonators Rob Swedish Tourists

MIAMI (CBSMiami) – Miami police are hoping to catch up to a pair of police impersonators who robbed a pair of tourists from Sweden.

On Tuesday, 36-year old Manuel Seminario was taking the couple to the airport in his cab when they were robbed at the intersection of NW 37th Avenue and 14th Street. Seminario told police he was stopped behind a silver Toyota at a traffic light.  When the light changed, it didn't move, so he honked his horn.  That's when, Seminario said, two men got out and walked toward his cab.

He told police the first man screamed expletives at him as he approached the driver side of the car. The second man, who was holding what looked like a police badge, went to the passenger side.

Seminario said the man standing by his door then yanked it open, pulled him from the cab, forced him to his knees and patted him down.

The second man then pulled one of the passengers, 28-year old Ermina Lennartsson, from the cab and went through her purse. He then threw the bag in the Toyota. He then grabbed a bag from the second passenger, 28-year old Glenn Lennartsson, and began to go through it. Lennartsson pleaded with the man not to take it because it had their passports. The man handed the bag back to Lennartsson.

The second man then grabbed Seminario's backpack and bag from the front seat of the cab and threw them into his car.

The impersonators explained that they were searching for drugs and then all three victims were patted down and their luggage was searched. Seminario and the Lennartssons were then ordered to get back in the cab as the two men returned to the Toyota and drove off with the couple's and cabbie's belongings including wallets with credit cards, a gold chain, a purse, a camera, cell phones and nearly $500 in cash.

Just ten minutes earlier, police said the two men attempted the same act on a female victim at the Orion Gas Station, located at 1055 N.W. 27 Avenue, however, they were unsuccessful.

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