Overview
- Police linked two violent robberies on Lamadrid street in Maipú to the same scheme and identified suspects after investigators reconstructed the cases using intelligence and follow-up work.
- Investigators say the criminals lured victims through dating apps and websites, ambushed them with weapons, stole belongings and forced bank transfers in what is locally called 'citas trampa'.
- One victim was forced to transfer ARS 70,000 and had an iPhone, iPad and vehicle parts stolen while another was locked in his car trunk and forced to transfer ARS 2,900,000 during the attack.
- Raids on homes along Ruta Provincial 50 in Palmira led to the detention of two men, aged 26 and 30, who were placed at the disposal of the Unidad Fiscal de Robos y Hurtos and had two phones seized for forensic pericia.
- Authorities say the probe remains open as forensic phone evidence may identify more victims or accomplices and officials have urged people meeting contacts from apps to choose public places and tell someone their plans.