St. Petersburg police are warning realtors in the area to watch out for an armed man who has targeted female realtors in two frightening crimes.
Police believe the man is planning the attacks in advance.
“He made two appointments with two different realtors to see two different homes,” Yolanda Fernandez with the St. Petersburg Police Department said.
Investigators say in the first case, a female realtor was showing a home to a man in the 1700 block of Oxford Street North when a man pulled out a handgun then secured the woman’s hands and feet with zipties. A phone call was made to her husband to request a ransom.
The gunman stole the victim’s car keys and cell phone and then drove off, investigators say. The woman was able to loosen her feet and escape to a nearby home.
“She was shaking. I’ve never seen somebody shake so bad in my life, but she’s a strong woman and after everything calmed down, she seemed very strong,” Tim Adair said.
Investigators say in the second case, which occurred just hours later, a realtor was showing a home to a man in the 1200 block of 58th street North, when he robbed her at gunpoint.
The suspect in both cases is described as a white man, mid 40’s, 5’5″ to 5’8″ tall, with a medium build. He was wearing a straw hat, a dark blue shirt and black pants and was driving a silver Nissan Murano, which was caught on tape by a security camera. Both victims report the attacker has a strong “Northeast” accent.
St. Petersburg police have contacted the realtors association to alert them.
