Oxon Hill, MD - U.S. Marshal's Car Stolen - Blue Lights Used to Pull Motorists Over to Rob Them
Car Similar To Vehicle Used In Police Impersonation Robberies
POSTED: 4:00 pm EST February 23, 2007
UPDATED: 4:38 pm EST February 23, 2007
OXON HILL, Md. -- The gold Ford Crown Victoria stolen from a U.S. marshal was
recovered Wednesday night in Oxon Hill.
The car, which matches the description of a vehicle used in a series of police
impersonation robberies, was burned and has been taken in for processing.
Police said two men posing as police officers committed two robberies in D.C.
and two in Silver Spring earlier this week.
Montgomery County police said the Silver Spring robberies took place in the Long
Branch area at about 11:45 p.m.
Investigators said a cab driver was followed by a late 1990s gold Ford Crown
Victoria as the cab made its way from downtown Silver Spring. When the cab
driver arrived home, police said, the Crown Victoria pulled behind the cab and
red and blue lights flashed from inside the car's grill. The car was also
equipped with a siren, police said. The passenger got out of the Crown Victoria
wearing a ski mask, pointed a handgun at the cab driver and robbed him, police
said.
After robbing the cab, police said, the Ford made a U-turn, stopped another
taxicab with its flashing lights and siren, and then robbed the driver and the
two occupants of that cab.
Police said the Ford then left the area on East Wayne Avenue towards Manchester
Road.
"We've driven four Crown Victorias, 1990s models," said Sonia Pruitt of
Montgomery County police. "Unmarked cars have red and blue flashing grill
lights. We have a siren in our unmarked cars. It's awfully reasonable to assume
that any citizen, including a cab driver, would think they were being pulled
over by police."
D.C. police told News4 they are investigating two cases with similar lookouts.
The first took place before the Silver Spring robberies and involved a
pedestrian. The other happened Tuesday morning and involved another taxi.
Anyone who may have information about the robberies is asked to call the
Montgomery County police at 240-773-5070.
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