Police: Robbery crew targets pedestrians, behind up to 13 crimes

CHAMBLEE, Ga. - Police are warning pedestrians to be wary of walking at night, as a robbery crew could be behind up to 13 crimes in the Chamblee area. 

Police said the victims have been mostly Hispanic men, and authorities believe the suspects are targeting these particular victims in search of victims carrying cash. 

The crimes started last May and generally occurred between 11 p.m. to around 5 a.m. in the morning. The suspects, generally in crews of between two to three people, speak both English and Spanish to victims. 

Police said the suspects are willing to act violently. One victim tells me how, as he tried to run from the robbers, they fired shots at him. 

"He has a handgun. He tells me, 'don't move,'" said Edgar Olivares, who said he was ambushed in June outside his former apartment complex off Plaster Road. "I took off running, and he shot three shots," Olivares said.

 He was able to get away from the suspects before they fled. 

Police said the crew has been willing to even pistol-whip their victims. 

"They approached the [victims] at gunpoint, robbed them of their money and cell phones. Generally one of them is armed. There's been a couple [incidents] where both of them have been armed," said Captain Jason Waasdorp of Chamblee Police. "The obvious concern from us is getting the suspects off the street," he said. 

Authorities are working to determine if the suspects could be behind similar crimes in surrounding jurisdictions.  

The suspects have used multiple vehicles, from an older model green Blazer to a white Toyota taxi. 

Anyone with information on the suspects is asked to contact Chamblee Police or Crime Stoppers at 404-577-TIPS.