At least four people are suspected in a string of robberies in the Piney Branch area of Silver Spring that have occurred since June 1, Montgomery County police said.
Police said the suspects, all of whom are believed to be between the ages of 18 and 30, appear to be targeting mostly Latinos. Three of the suspects are male. All are believed to be black or Latino.
Since June 1, at least 20 people have been robbed on or around Piney Branch Road. Fourteen of the victims were Latino, police said. The suspects had a gun or a knife in about half of the robberies, police said. The victims received only minor injuries, Cpl. Sonia Pruitt said Monday.
Seven of the robberies occurred between the 8400 and 8800 blocks of Piney Branch Road, all at different times of the day and night. Two robberies occurred on the street July 12, between 8:50 and 10:47 p.m.
“It doesn’t seem to be that they’re targeting a bus stop or anything,” Pruitt said. “They [police] are not saying at all that these are linked. They’re just saying there have been a bunch of robberies.”
Police ask that anyone with information on the robberies call 301-565-5835 or call Crime Solvers at 866-411-TIPS (8477).
