Victims carjacked at gunpoint at Pembroke Pines apartment complex, police say

PEMBROKE PINES, Fla. – Pembroke Pines police are seeking two suspects accused of carjacking two residents at gunpoint at an apartment complex just before midnight Monday night.

Police said at around 11:50 p.m., a man and woman exited their white Mercedes at the Marela Apartments, located at Northwest 129th Avenue and Northwest First Street, when they were approached by behind by a suspect holding a gun.

They said the suspect demanded their keys and took the car. Police said a red sedan followed the suspect, which was believed to contain at least one additional suspect.

“To hear that happened is disturbing,” resident Robert Nonies said.

The complex is gated, but residents said the gates haven’t worked for some time.

“I’ve been here like a year and the whole time it’s been like that,” Cinthya Uquillis said.

Uquillis described the crime as “unsettling.”

“I blame the complex, because they need to be doing something about that,” Nonies said.

Local 10 News later obtained an email sent to residents from property management at around 3 p.m. Tuesday afternoon. It claimed the gate has now been fixed.

“We can now close our gates,” it said.

“If one or both suspects lived within the community then (the gate) would not have prevented (the crime), but there’s no way of knowing that until we identify these individuals and place them into custody,” Pembroke Pines police Maj. Al Xiques said.

Police said officers were able to track the Mercedes, which was empty by that point, to a Sunoco gas station at 7250 Pembroke Rd. in Miramar. Officers from Miramar and Pembroke Pines searched for suspects in the area but were unable to locate them.

They did, however, get a good look at the suspects from surveillance video from the gas station, as well video from inside the complex. It appears to show the suspects spooked by a resident’s camera.

Anyone with information is asked to call Pembroke Pines police at 954-431-2200 or via email at tips@ppines.com.

Those who wish to remain anonymous can call Broward Crime Stoppers at 954-493-8477.