MIAMI BEACH, FLA. (WSVN) - Miami Beach Police have located and arrested three people suspected of being involved in a carjacking after they fled on foot near Di Lido Island.
A woman had just gotten to work at a bank in North Beach, located on 71st Street and Harding Avenue, when an armed robber approached her, at around 1:30 p.m., Tuesday.
The robber took her watch, cellphone and silver Volkswagen Jetta. The victim was not injured.
“It was an armed carjacking — extremely dangerous situation where they got away with the person’s vehicle at gunpoint,” said MBPD Officer Ernesto Rodriguez.
Police believe they located the vehicle on the Venetian Causeway, just before 6 p.m.
The occupants of the vehicle bailed out and fled on foot on East Dilido Drive.
Police surrounded the area for hours as they searched for the three accused carjackers, who were considered armed and dangerous.
Miami Beach Police took all three suspects into custody and gave the all-clear just before 8 p.m., tweeting, “Update: Officers located and arrested 3 subjects from the armed carjacking earlier today. A firearm was also recovered.”
One of the suspects was taken down by a K9 before being handcuffed.
Police found a weapon inside the recovered vehicle.
Miami Beach Police have released the identities of two of the subjects: 18-year-old Austin Fernandez and 18-year-old Juan Mena. Police withheld the name of the third subject, who is 17 years old.
Longtime residents of Di Lido Island said they’ve never seen anything like this in their neighborhood.
“I kinda feel like I’m in another country,” said neighbor Guiermo Ramos.
“We were like, OK, this is very unusual,'” said neighbor Daniel Ben-zvi.
Neighbors were in disbelief as they watched the chaos unfold off the Venetian Causeway.
“It’s scary. It’s scary because I’m wondering, ‘Are they hiding in my yard?'” said neighbor Karene Krijt. “We’re in a neighborhood that’s supposed to be safe, and then there’s this happening, so it is something that is concerning.”
Several agencies assisted in the investigation, including Florida Highway Patrol and Miami-Dade Police.
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