MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Memphis Police are searching for the crooks responsible for a string of robberies within minutes of each other in downtown Memphis Wednesday night.
First call to MPD
MPD said it began with a call about a robbery just before 6 p.m. Nov. 29, 2023, outside the Courtyard Marriot on Jefferson Ave. The victim told investigators he was outside the hotel when a white Ford Mustang pulled up and a man in all black walked up and grabbed two bags off the bench next to him.
The man told officers he ran after the guy to try to get his bags back, but the suspect stuck the bags in the car and got in. That’s when the victim said he jumped on the hood of the vehicle to try to stop them but was thrown off when they took off.
The victim told police the thieves got away with a $300 Coach bag full of clothes, toiletries, passport, and keys, and a laptop bag with a $2,800 MacBook Pro.
Investigators said video from the Mariott showed the suspect’s car driving away. They said video from a neighboring hotel, the Springhill Suites on Court Ave., showed two men dressed in all black go into the hotel and then walk out and get into a white Mustang.
Second call to MPD
Just minutes after the first robbery call, MPD was called to an aggravated assault not far from the Rendezvous restaurant at Monroe Ave. and Rendezvous Alley. The victim told investigators he valets for the restaurant and was setting up his valet cart on the sidewalk when a white convertible Mustang with California plates on Monroe Ave. did a U-turn then pulled up as if they were going to valet the car. He told police two guys in ski masks jumped out of the back with guns and ran towards him, telling him not to run.
The victim told police he ran anyway down the alley towards the restaurant, thinking the suspects would shoot him in the back. He said he returned about five minutes later after he saw the Mustang drive off and saw the door to his cart open and a bowl on the ground.
Third call to MPD
Minutes after the call outside the Rendezvous, Memphis Police got a call about a robbery at the Sheraton hotel on N. Main St. The Valet workers told investigators a white Ford Mustang with a black drop-top roof with three people inside pulled up to the front, and two suspects jumped out and came up to the valet booth.
The workers told police one suspect reached into his pants, saying, “You don’t want to lose your life for this job,” and one worker quickly turned and walked away. The workers told investigators the two suspects then grabbed keys from the valet booth and ran to the parking lot, where they took off in a dark blue 2024 Honda Accord with Pennsylvania license plate MJB-4052, a gray 2017 Ford Explorer with Missouri license plate JJ1B2V, and the white Mustang.
Police said there was video of the robbery.
Anyone with information on these crimes is asked to call CrimeStoppers at 901-528-CASH.
