MIAMI BEACH, FLA. (WSVN) - A couple’s dream vacation to South Florida turned into a nightmare when they were robbed on the beach.
Two tourists visiting from Texas decided to take a stroll on South Beach, Tuesday, after midnight, when all of a sudden two gunmen robbed them and forced them to undress.
The 50-year-old victim did not want to be identified, but spoke exclusively with 7News. “It was horrible. You just can’t trust people anymore,” she said. “It makes me scared of everybody.”
“They had a gun, and they were pointing it at us to take off all of our clothes, and the guy that was holding the gun told us to take our clothes off,” the victim said. “Then he said something about that I had to suck them … that you know, I had to suck them too, and then they told him to grab my breasts.”
She was in town from Dallas with her boyfriend and after grabbing some drinks at Mangos, she said they went for a moonlight walk on the beach after midnight.
“They put the gun in his face and told him to shut up,” she said, “and we just all got undressed and telling them to please, please leave us alone.”
According to Miami Beach Police, the crooks got away with cellphones, the woman’s rings and a wallet with $300 in cash. “I mean, we came to have a great time, and now this happens,” she said. “We just wanted to have a great time. I bring my daughter and my niece, and they didn’t want to come with us. Luckily, they didn’t come with us. They stayed in the room while this happened. All we want to do is just leave.”
The woman refused their demands, and the gunmen took off on foot and ditched their clothes at a trash can near Eighth Street on the beach.
This is the second time in less than a month that tourists have become targets on Miami Beach in a similar manner.
Chicago residents, Stephanie Mata and her family were robbed at gunpoint by two men on June 7, during a late night walk on the beach near 39th Street and Collins Avenue. “It was very close to death, I feel like,” Mata said. “It was scary, a scary feeling.”
The thieves took their cellphones, cash and credit cards before they forced the victims to remove their clothes. “We had to strip naked, not look at [them] and run toward the beach, so they could get away,” said Mata.
An arrest has been made in the June 7 case, and officials said, they have strong leads on the latest incident.
Meanwhile, Miami Beach PD have not said if the incidents were connected, but the search for suspects continues.
As a reminder to locals and visitors, beaches in Miami are closed from midnight to 5 a.m.
Miami Beach officials are investigating this case, but if you have any information, call Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at 305-471-TIPS. Remember, you can always remain anonymous, and you may be eligible for a $1,000 reward.
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