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Apr 7, 2009 11:06 pm US/Eastern
Robber Attacks Men In Oakland Park, Ft. Lauderdale
OAKLAND PARK (CBS4) ―
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Police say a man who looks like the one in this drawing beat two robbery victims in two occassions in Broward County.
CBS
One man is clinging to life, and another is nursing some serious injuries. Both were savagely beaten and robbed, one in Oakland Park, the other in Fort Lauderdale.
Police released a composite sketch of one of the attackers. In all, they believe there were four of them. The victim in Fort Lauderdale had been out for the evening in Wilton Manors before the attack. He told police he was walking to a nearby 7-11 when they jumped him from behind.
"He said that he was walking, he was struck in the back of the head was the initial blow," said Fort Lauderdale Police Detective Kathy Collins. "He went down. He believes a total of 4 guys beat on him."
In the Oakland park case the victim had just left the Peter Pan Diner and was walking home a few blocks away. He was attacked right along busy Oakland Park Blvd. He's well known at the restaurant. Right now employees there are stunned.
"It's kind of scary I guess, now, who's safe," wonders restaurant owner Vasilios Kourkomelis. "If it's happening now, you really have to pay attention. "
Investigators say these cases are definitely linked. In both cases, detectives believe the victims were jumped by four guys. And In each case the men were robbed. One other common thread: both victims are gay. At this time, however, police believe that's nothing more than a coincidence. "Right now, in both of these crimes, robbery is the only motive we're looking at," explained BSO spokeswoman Dani Moschella. "If we develop other information later on, of course we'll pursue it. "
If you have information that can help in the investigation, call Broward Crimestoppers at 954-493-TIPS.
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