55.9 F
Wrightsville Beach
Monday, March 18, 2024

BREAKING: Wrightsville Beach police hunting suspects in weekend beach armed robberies

Must read

Wrightsville Beach police are still searching for two suspects who eluded a manhunt after using a handgun to commit two armed robberies on the beach strand on Saturday night.

In both incidents, the two suspects confronted a couple on the beach, pointing a gun at them and taking wallets, a cell phone and personal items, Wrightsville Beach Police Capt. Jason Bishop said. The first occurred at Public Beach Access No. 25, near East Atlanta Street, and was reported at approximately 10:26 p.m. A little more than one hour later at about 11:48 p.m., two individuals matching the same description reportedly committed a similar robbery on the beach near Sand Dollar Lane, police said.

After the second robbery, police stopped and searched all westbound island traffic looking for individuals who matched the victims’ description. Bishop said police were looking for two black males, both wearing dark clothing, with one described as tall and thin and the other described as shorter and heavy-set, with an “afro-style” haircut. The shorter suspect was wearing a dark hooded sweatshirt.

Police actively searched cars until about 3:30 a.m., eventually focusing on traffic at the intersection of North Lumina Avenue and West Salisbury Street. Wrightsville Beach police called in assistance from neighboring jurisdictions, including a New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office K-9 unit and the Wilmington Police Department SABLE helicopter unit.

However, they weren’t able to locate the suspects, who targeted a 22-year-old man and 23-year-old woman in the East Atlanta Street holdup; and a 32-year-old woman and 27-year-old man in the robbery near Sand Dollar Lane.

Some time elapsed between the time of the first robbery and the police report, Bishop said. But while the two suspects stole a mobile phone from the second targeted couple, one of them had a phone that wasn’t taken and reported the robbery moments after it happened.

The manhunt for the suspects will continue, Bishop said, as investigators will interview the victims again and have them view photo lineups that could help identify the suspects. Police tried to ping the mobile phone that was taken, but the result produced a mile-wide radius that wasn’t precise enough to help police, he said. Investigators will also review camera footage from downtown and the Salisbury Street area to locate the suspects.

The suspects took car keys, but in neither case was the vehicle taken. Overall, Bishop said the suspects didn’t come away with much, as neither couple had many possessions on them.

Email [email protected]

- Advertisement -spot_img

More articles

- Advertisement -spot_img

Latest articles