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CrimeApr 02, 2015
Social post leads FBI to smash-and-grab suspects
Police arrested five individuals wanted in connection with a smash-and-grab robbery in Colorado after the FBI received a tip that the suspects had been posting incriminating photos of themselves on Instagram.
Sacramento, Calif.--They won’t be liking this.
Police in Sacramento arrested four men and one woman wanted in connection with a smash-and-grab robbery at a Colorado jewelry store after the FBI received a tip that the suspects had been posting incriminating photos of themselves on Instagram.
According to a report by CBS Denver, back in February, a group consisting of one woman and three men entered a jewelry store in Denver’s Cherry Creek neighborhood, smashed showcases and grabbed merchandise. They fled the scene in a red or maroon-colored SUV, which they abandoned a few blocks away.
During the course of the investigation, the FBI received a tip that they should look at Instagram, where the alleged thieves had been posting “incriminating” photos of themselves and even bragging about their crime on the photo-sharing site, according to the report.
A total of five people were arrested in connection with the crime less than 24 hours later.
John J. Kennedy, president of the Jewelers’ Security Alliance, said these five individuals are members of a crew operating out of Oakland, Calif., one of two that have contributed to a sharp rise in smash-and-grab robberies recently.
RELATED CONTENT: Industry saw smash and grab ‘explosion’ in 2014
He said it’s not uncommon for posts on social media sites to lead to arrests. Criminals post there, and law enforcement knows to look.
“Occasionally, they find extremely incriminating evidence,” Kennedy said, such as suspects who display weapons or are wearing unique, recognizable pieces of stolen jewelry.
“It sounds incredible,” he said, “but I’ve seen it myself.”
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