Atlanta’s LGBTQ community being targeted by armed thieves on popular dating app, police say

ATLANTA — Atlanta police are issuing a warning and call to action for those in the city’s LGBT community.

They say someone is targeting LGBTQ men through popular dating app Grindr and robbing them.

Investigators told Channel 2′s Steve Gehlbach that they have linked eight similar cases spanning from February to this past week.

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According to investigators, the suspect or suspects meet up with victims and take them to a remote location. After the date, police say the suspect pulls out a gun and robs the men of their wallet, phone, keys and even their car.

Police say all this begins on the dating app.

“…[They] ask about typical dating things, ask about their life, typical dating things, anything do to get to know someone. However, the person takes them off site, off the app and have regular conversation through text messages,” said Sgt. Rodney Jones with the APD Robbery Unit.

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Police shared a video with Gehlbach showing the suspect, a man in his late teens to early twenties, just before one of his robberies. He can be seen getting into the passenger seat of a vehicle before driving off.

APD’s Robbery and LGBTQ units are working together and want to get the message out to men who could be victims to take precautions, tell a person you trust where you are going and meet in a public area or place you have control.

“Listen to your inner voice. If you are trying to FaceTime someone, or get an address and [they are] kinda hesitant and give you location of a cemetery or someplace you don’t know, take that as a sign,” said APD LGBTQ Liaison Spo. Eric King.

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Anyone with information on the suspect or may be a victim should reach out to APD at 404-546-5428.

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