PALM BEACH COUNTY, Fla. --
A $10,000 reward is being offered for information on a string of crimes in which criminals ram their cars into other vehicles in South Florida and then rob the occupants.
The Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office said there have been reports of 12 crimes in 10 cities. The crimes usually occur between midnight and 6 a.m., police said.
Police said a criminal will bump a vehicle into the back of a victim's car. When the victim gets out to check for damage, the criminal holds the victim at gunpoint and robs the person of valuables, including cellphones and purses, according to investigators.
In some cases, the victim was forced to drive to an ATM to withdraw money, police said. In others, the victim was confronted while using an ATM, according to police.
Police said that anyone who is involved in a minor rear-end crash should drive to a well-lit and populated area and call 911 immediately. Drivers should not get out of their vehicles. Also, police advise people to be aware of their surroundings while using ATMs.
On Friday, Palm Beach County police released surveillance images of a suspect at a drive-up ATM at a JP Morgan Chase bank at 2500 PGA Blvd. at about 4:30 a.m. on May 7.
Crime Stoppers is offering a $10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the man in the pictures or any other suspect involved in the crimes. Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 800-458-TIPS (8477).
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