Camput Crime Alert 20090527 UPDATE - June 1, 2009

Woman Parked at a Local Store is Kidnapped and Robbed

EUGENE POLICE DEPARTMENT NEWS RELEASE
May 31, 2009
For further information, contact:
Jenna LaBounty, Interim Public Information Coordinator, at 682-5197, or
Melinda Kletzok, APR, Public Information Director, at 682-5124

Case No. 09-9960

Eugene Police Violent Crimes Unit is asking the public to be especially vigilant after a second woman this week was forced to drive her car to a local ATM and robbed.

Last night at 7:10, a 30-year-old woman was sitting in her car at the W. 11th Fred Meyers when two men unexpectedly got in. They threatened to use a weapon on her, forced her to drive them to the US Bank ATM at 1717 W. 11th and then attempted to withdraw money with her bank card. The two men then forced her to drive to I-105 and W. 7th Avenue, where they got out of the car and commanded her to keep driving onto the freeway.

The two suspects are described as between ages 25 and 30. One suspect was reported to be a Caucasian male, 5'8" tall, with a slender build, wearing a grey or almost white pinstriped fedora, white long-sleeved buttoned up shirt, blue jeans and wire framed sunglasses. The other suspect was described as a Black male, 5'7" to 5'8" tall, with a muscular build, and wearing a dark baseball hat, black shirt, and plastic framed sunglasses.

Because there have been two car-involved robberies in the same week (the other one occuring early Monday morning, May 27), police are advising the public to be especially cautious and alert:

* Lock your doors after you enter your vehicle
* When you are approaching your vehicle, have your keys ready
* Be aware of your surroundings
* Do not let people get into your personal space. Don't be afraid to tell them to stop and to be loud about it.
* Don't get caught between your car and a stranger who appears to be trying to follow or intercept you. It is better to immediately leave the area around your car and run to a safe place where there are other people.
* Yell and get the attention of other people in the area
* Park your vehicle only in well-lit areas that are not isolated

If anyone has information regarding the robbery, please call the Eugene Police Tip Line at 682.8888.