Five women were robbed at gunpoint in the driveway of the Biltmore Hotel on West Peachtree Street late Thursday, but a stolen smartphone with tracking capability led to the suspects’ arrest, Atlanta police said Friday.
The women told police they were in the driveway of the Midtown hotel at around 11 p.m. when they were approached from behind by two men who pointed guns at them and demanded their belongings.
“At some point while being robbed, one of the victims punched one of the suspects in the face,” police spokeswoman Kim Jones said in a release. She said the suspects then fled with several purses and electronic devices.
One of the stolen devices was an iPhone, which was later tracked to an apartment complex on Stanton Drive in southwest Atlanta. Police said two suspects were taken into custody after the robbery victims positively identified them.
Demarcus Smith, 22, and Jermaine Johnson, 20, were charged with robbery and were being held without bond Friday in Fulton County jail.
Jones, the police spokeswoman, said both were on probation at the time of their arrest. She said more suspects may be involved and the investigation continued.
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