SOUTH FULTON, Ga. — South Fulton police are on the search for robbers they say are finding their victims on dating apps.
Police told Channel 2′s Audrey Washington that person or people responsible for a string of robberies along Old National Highway over the last few weeks.
[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]
Authorities say the suspects are using the dating app Grindr, which is largely used by gay men, to find unsuspecting victims, meet them along Old National Highway and rob them at gunpoint minutes later.
“Money is asked for and, at some point in time, the gun is produced and the victims are robbed,” Captain Jimmy Wyche said.
Washington asked to speak with some of the victims, but police told her they were uncomfortable speaking on camera.
In 2020, Channel 2 spoke with a woman who lived through a similar incident. She was threatened and assaulted by a man she met on the dating app Hinge.
“Nothing was said, just started to strike me in my head all over,” Brittany Correri said. “He said he was going to shoot me.”
That man, Ben Fancher, was later arrested in New York.
TRENDING STORIES:
- Georgia police seize man’s new Mercedes just one day after he bought it
- 2 arrested after viral video of bus driver being slapped, kids climbing out of windows
- 20+ practicing Georgia nurses obtained licenses with fake diplomas or transcripts, feds say
Detectives say they are still searching for the suspects in the South Fulton robberies.
Police are urging people to be smart when meeting people online.
“If you meet up with them, try to go somewhere public, somewhere well-lit, somewhere you will be safe. And also notify a friend or family and let them know where you’re going,” Wyche said.
[SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]
IN OTHER NEWS:
©2022 Cox Media Group
