PLANTATION, Fla. – Multiple incidents of people leaving Plantation Publix stores and getting robbed shortly thereafter have been reported.
Plantation police are expected to release more information on Friday after the incidents, several of which have been reported within the past week.
Recently, a woman left her local Publix and started driving home. Security cameras at her neighborhood caught her driving right past the guard gate, but there was another car following her.
"They followed the resident down the main thoroughfare, rear-ended her intentionally," said Charles Morehead, El Dorado Estates HOA.
Morehead said she naturally stopped and got out. That's when she was ambushed and attacked.
A woman who was driving the car got out and appeared to apologize, but she instead used pepper spray on the victim.
Two men also jumped out with guns, making demands. The victim ended up on the ground and minutes later, their car was seen leaving the property, followed by the victim's car. Neighbors and witnesses said it was stolen.
It has been the talk of the town, especially on social media lately. That's because Local 10 News knows of at least three separate similar incidents all beginning at Publix supermarkets in Plantation.
Police across the city have been on alert seeing a similar pattern at those stores involving guns or pepper spray, or like in this case, both.
"We are working closely with the Plantation Police Department and the Broward Sheriff's Office regarding incidents happening within the city," Publix spokeswoman Nicole Krauss said in a statement. "The safety of our customers and associates is a top priority for us."