Exclusive: Coconut Creek Police Looking For Member Of Criminal Group Targeting High School Girls
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COCONUT CREEK (CBSMiami) -- Coconut Creek Police say they've arrested two people in connection with a series of robberies in the city where young men targeted high school girls for their cellphones. Now police are looking to arrest the group's getaway driver.
"This is particularly alarming," said Coconut Creek Police detective Joseph Barreto, describing the amount of crimes and the level of violence.
Barreto shared surveillance video with CBS4 News that showed a teenage girl walking home from school in late November. As she walked, two males jumped out of a car, confronted her, pointed a gun at her and stole her $500 cellphone. It all happened in 10 seconds.
Fortunately for this victim, she was not physically injured but Detective Barreto said one victim wasn't so lucky.
"In one instance a victim was not only held at gunpoint but was physically battered during the robbery," Barreto said. "It's pretty brazen."
Coconut Creek Police received reports of 6 of these crimes in a 3 week span in November. They've arrested a pair, 18-year-old Robert Clark along with a juvenile male. But they believe the pair may have had a getaway driver that they want to catch. Detectives are also looking into whether this group is connected to a similar crime in Deerfield Beach.
In most of the cases, investigators say, the M.O. was simple.
"The one suspect, he would go up and ask to use the phone to call his mother," Barreto said.
And then, detectives say, he would run to a waiting car. But in some cases, a gun came out and police are grateful no one got shot.
"It probably would've been a matter of time before someone got seriously hurt," Barreto said.
Investigators say these cases reinforce why everyone needs to be aware of their surroundings.
If you have any information on who the getaway driver is, contact Crime Stoppers at (954) 493-TIPS. Also, if you have been a victim or know someone who has, Coconut Creek Police want to hear from you.
