Thread: Drivers in West Palm, Delray shot in 'bump and rob' attacks

Drivers in West Palm, Delray shot in 'bump and rob' attacks

Video at the link

By Alexandra Seltzer and Sonja Isger
Palm Beach Post Staff Writer
Updated: 9:11 p.m. Thursday, May 19, 2011
Posted: 6:22 a.m. Thursday, May 19, 2011

WEST PALM BEACH — There's a new crime in town. It's called the "bump and rob." And local law enforcement is increasingly worried over drivers being victimized.

So much so, they are warning Palm Beach County residents that if you are driving on the road between the hours of midnight and 6 a.m. and another car bumps you from behind, do not get out of your car.

"It's very serious," said Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office spokesman Eric Davis. "We're sending out warnings and tips because it is serious."

From Palm Beach Gardens to Delray Beach, drivers are being robbed at gunpoint. The most recent incidents happened early Thursday.

Around 3 a.m. in Delray Beach, a "dark-colored Jeep brand SUV" bumped another car traveling north on Military Trail near Atlantic Avenue, Delray Beach police Sgt. Nicole Guerriero said.

She said the victim got out of his car to check whether it was damaged. The passenger and driver of the SUV approached him with a gun. The passenger shot the victim twice, but did not rob him or steal his car.

Just about 30 minutes later, West Palm Beach police responded to a shooting on Churchill Road near Olive Avenue.

In this case, the victim was hit from behind by a similar-looking SUV. When he got out of his car to check for damage, he was shot and robbed.

Neighbors who called police to help the man saw that he was shot in the face. They said the victim told them the men took $900 and his credit cards after hitting the back of his car with theirs while driving on Olive Avenue.

The two "bump and robs" were the first for both Delray Beach and West Palm Beach police agencies; but both were familiar with the act.

The sheriff's office warned of the "bump and robs" just last week, after deputies had their first run in with it.

On May 12, between midnight and 6 a.m. the sheriff's office responded to two "bump and rob" calls.

The first took place in the 4400 block of Cherry Road when the victim was hit from behind. The victim walked out of his car to check for damage and was confronted by two men wearing dark gloves and masks, Davis said.

One of the men took out a semiautomatic handgun, and took the man's money and wallet. He was then forced to take the men to an ATM and withdraw cash.

In another incident, the victim was stopped at Lyons Road and Hypoluxo Road. He was bumped from behind and confronted by two men after getting out to check for damage. The victim was hit on the head with a semiautomatic handgun, and then forced to drive to an ATM and withdraw money. He was able to escape from the car, however.

"They're distracting people with the purpose of committing a crime," said Delray Beach's Guerriero. "If someone is close to you at an ATM, don't take money out. Go to a different ATM. If you feel like someone is following you, drive to a well-lit area.

"Just be aware and realize something is not right," she said. "We need to take away the opportunity."

If you have any information about one or more of these crimes, you are asked to call Palm Beach County Crime Stoppers at (800)-458-TIPS (8477).

http://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/crime ... 84615.html

Like I said ... if you come to Florida; please be careful

Florida is like the MedellÃ*n Cartel of the states

People need to start pointing the finger at all of the Open Border Politicians and ask how do they plead as an Unendighted co-conspiritor to every crime committed by an Illegal Alien

it's going to get far worse as Florida continues its Collapse

I remember visiting friends in Florida and seeing bullet holes on a bridge between his apartment building and the local supermarket. If I had been walking the same way that day I would have either been hit or forced to jump in to water where there were water moccasins and cotton mouths.