Armed Robbers Followed Elderly Woman Home

BRANDON, FL — The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office is asking for help identifying the people responsible for a brazen armed robbery that occurred in a Brandon neighborhood Monday afternoon. Authorities say the suspects in the case followed their elderly victim from a Walmart to her home before one pulled out a gun and stole the woman’s purse.

According to the sheriff’s office, the 86-year-old woman bought groceries at the 11110 Causeway Blvd. Walmart around 12:25 p.m. Aug. 21. After loading up her purchases, the woman got back in her vehicle and drove to her Brandon home. The woman, deputies say, was unaware that she was being watched by people inside a dark gray Toyota Corolla. She also did not realize those same people followed her to her home and parked in a nearby driveway.

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Once in the woman’s neighborhood, deputies say, a man got out of the passenger side of the Corolla, walked up to the woman and pointed a silver semi-automatic weapon at her while she was unloading her groceries. The man then snatched the woman’s purse, got back into the car and took off, an email from the sheriff’s office said.

Deputies say the purse was later found in a trash can at the Git-N-Go at 7802 Rideout Road.

Detailed suspect descriptions are not available. Deputies have not released the victim's name or the neighborhood in which she lives. No further information is available at this time.

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Anyone with information about the suspects in the case is asked to call the sheriff’s office at 813-247-8200. Tips may also be submitted through Crime Stoppers by calling 800-873-TIPS or by going online to www.crimestopperstb.com. Deputies say there are at least two suspects involved in the case. The Corolla is believed to be a 2014-17 model.

Photos of the suspect vehicle courtesy of the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office