Police Investigate Armed Robberies Centered Around Gay Dating App
BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- After a pattern of armed robberies targeting male users of social media websites, the gay dating app Grindr in particular, Baltimore Police are investigating.
The suspects pulled out a gun on the victims during the last two cases and two cars were stolen but later recovered.
The robberies occurred four times with four different men between Oct. 25 and Nov. 11 in the area of Loch Raven Boulevard. Police believe the suspects are utilizing apartment buildings in the area. In two of the cases, a building's laundry room was used.
"People will use whatever means they can and criminals will use online dating as an opportunity to get your stuff," said Baltimore Police spokesman T.J. Smith.
Earlier this month, a Montgomery County basketball coach was charged with soliciting sex from a minor on Craiglist. In Colorado, a woman was convicted of attempted murder after she used Craiglist to lure a pregnant woman and cut her unborn baby from her womb.
"I think there is a false sense of security in using these applications, that leads us to act in a way that ordinarily we wouldn't act. Ordinarily we would not agree to meet anyone at a non-public place, but behind these screens, behind these applications, that sorta just breaks down," said cyber security consultant Paul Dant.
If anyone recognizes any of the suspects pictured above, you are asked to contact detectives at 410-396-2444.
The suspects are described as followed:
- Black male, approximately 19 years old, 6-feet tall, 170 pounds, gray hoodie, red sneakers
- Black male, approximately 20 years old, 5-foot-11, 170 pounds, beard and mustache, dark color bomber jacket
- Black male, approximately 19 years old, 5-foot-6, 150 pounds, glasses, black North Face jacket
The Baltimore Police Department would like to remind people that use online means for dating or shopping to always remember the following tips:
- Always meet in a well lit public place and stay in a public place
- Send pictures of the person to your friends
- Daytime is better for first meets
- Cross check the person through other social media sites
- Stay sober
- Drive yourself
- Trust your intuition- If something doesn't seem right, leave
- Play detective- Ask questions, plenty of them
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