ATLANTA — Police are warning people to stay alert, especially when walking alone, after a robbery crew stabbed and attacked two men in midtown Atlanta.
The first attack happened near Peachtree Road and 4th Street on July 18. Another man was stabbed and beaten as he walked near Piedmont Park Saturday.
Police told Channel 2's Tom Jones they believe both cases are connected.
"Everybody involved in this has been completely innocent doing their own thing. They are random victims just picked out because they are by themselves and isolated," Atlanta police Maj. Michael O'Connor said.
In the July 18 attack, police say two men and a woman asked a tourist who had been drinking if he wanted to go to a party.
When he said yes, the suspects grabbed him from behind and threw him on the ground. The man was kicked several times and stabbed at least eight times.
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On Saturday, a man was walking near Piedmont Park around midnight. Two men and a woman attacked him from behind and stabbed him.
"He was playing music on a set of AirPods they were in his ears," O'Connor said. "He was robbed of his items that included a wallet, his cellphone, some others items like that."
Both men were sent to a hospital in serious condition. One victim has been released, but the other remains in the hospital.
Investigators are hoping mistakes by the robbing crew will lead to their capture. O'Connor said there are some leads involving the victims' credit cards being used.
Police don't have a detailed description of the suspects, but they wanted to get the word out so people will be on the lookout.
"We really don't want this robbery to escalate into a murder situation," O'Connor said.
O'Connor said the department has added extra patrols in the area as well as an undercover unit. They are asking people to pay more attention to their surroundings.
Anyone with information about the attackers is urged to call Crimestoppers at 404-577-8477.
Cox Media Group
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