Fake Brinks Truck Driver Sought By Sunrise Police
SUNRISE (CBSMiami) – As the Black Friday weekend sales were coming to an end, a Sunrise clothing store gave $162,000 to a man who said he was an armored car guard for Brinks.
"No one was any wiser," said Sunrise Police Detective Lou Fernandez. "He walked right to the back of the store; met with the manager; the manager gave him the deposits like he's done every day of his shift."
The only problem was the man was an impostor police believe to be John Mortimer, 24, of Lauderhill.
"It's very brazen," said Det. Fernandez. "This is something that took a lot of planning."
Detectives said Mortimer has been caught in the past for stealing from stores, but this was his biggest heist yet.
"This is not your run of the mill $100-$200 theft. This is $162,000 worth of cash," said Det. Fernandez. "It's not credit card slips. It's not money orders. It's actual, tangible cash."
Mortimer walked out the front door of the store and it took Aeropostale and Brinks a week to realize what had happened. The first break in the case came in Plantation when a stolen car was found.
"They find what appears to be a Brinks hat, a Brinks uniform, a Brinks bag, a gun, and a gunbelt," said Sunrise Police officer Michelle Eddy.
DNA evidence pointed the finger at Moritmer. But, it's possible he's not even in the country. Mortimer is known to spend time in Montego Bay, Jamaica, according to a reward flyer released Monday by Broward Crime Stoppers.
Mortimer is wanted for armed burglary and grand theft, and a no-bond warrant has been issued for his arrest.
Crime Stoppers is offering a $1 thousand reward for information leading to his arrest. Anyone with information can share it anonymously at 954-493-TIPS (8477).
