Carjack, robbery spree hits Eugene

A new surveillance camera image of one of the suspects.

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By KVAL News and KVAL.com staff

EUGENE, Ore. -- A woman carjacked and robbed while returning a movie to a rental store was the third victin in less than a week forced by two men who claimed to have a gun to drive to an ATM and withdraw money.

Police said Monday afternoon they believe all three crimes were committed by the same two men, although the suspect descriptions have been similar but not identical in all three cases.

"I can't say whether or not a weapon was shown," said Detective Dan Braziel with the Eugene Police Department. "I can say the victims were threatened with violence.

"The victims were scared for their lives at the time," Braziel added. "They're emotional as anybody would be."

The latest abduction and robbery happened Sunday night around 10 p.m.

The victim, a woman returning a movie to Blockbuster at 18th and Willamette, told police two men forced their way inside her car, according to police. Threatening to use a weapon, the suspects made the woman drive to various ATMs to withdraw money before dropping them off near the new Federal Courthouse near 8th and Ferry.

  • Suspects: One suspect was reported to be a Hispanic male, age 25, medium build, with short dark hair and wearing a black t-shirt and jeans. The other suspect was described as a Caucasian male, age 25, with a slender build and wearing a light baseball cap

The crime is similar to one that happened on Saturday, when a 30-year-old woman was in her car at the Fred Meyer on West 11th Avenue. Two men got in, threatened her and forced her to drive to an ATM at 7th and Chambers. The suspects then made the woman drop them off near Interstate 105.

  • Suspects:  The two suspects are described as between ages 25 and 30. One suspect was reported to be a Caucasian male, 5'8" tall, with a slender build, wearing a grey or almost white pinstriped fedora, white long-sleeved buttoned up shirt, blue jeans and wire framed sunglasses. The other suspect was described as a Black male, 5'7" to 5'8" tall, with a muscular build, and wearing a dark baseball hat, black shirt, and plastic framed sunglasses.

Early last Wednesday morning, a female University of Oregon student was forced to drive two suspects to an ATM before dropping them off in south Eugene.

  • Suspects: Both male suspects in this case were described as between the ages of 18- to 21-years-old. One suspect was reported to be Caucasian approximately 5’ 7" to 5’ 8" tall and between 170 and 180 pounds. He had blonde hair and may have a round scar on his forehead. The second suspect was described as a Native American male approximately 5’ 5" tall, weighing 150 to 170 pounds, with black hair.

"Our biggest concern is the safety of our citizens in the area," said Braziel. "We are concerned this may happen again and that it may escalate into violence."

Police released this photograph of one of the men believed to have been involved in the Wednesday robbery. The image was captured by an ATM security camera.

Here is another image, released Monday afternoon:

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