ORANGE COUNTY, Fla.,None — Maitland police believe two women are pretending to sell sex so they can rob unsuspecting men at gunpoint. Police said the women held up a man inside his home on The Oaks Drive at Dommerich Drive ( see map ) early Wednesday morning.
AT THE SCENE: Images After The Chase CRIME REPORTS: Map Crimes In Your Neighborhood
Officers almost caught the women, but they escaped during a high-speed chase.
Investigators said the homeowner invited the two women to his house around 2:00am. They put a gun to his head, took his cash, electronics and even some of his wife's clothing, then sped off and a police chase ensued.
"He contacted an escort service. They arrived at the home through Craigslist," said Sgt. Louis Grindle of the Maitland Police Department.
A Maitland police officer crashed his patrol car during the chase, but is expected to be OK.
The man's wife wasn't home, but his three children were. No one was injured during the robbery.
"Is there anything you can tell us to get this story straight," WFTV reporter Q. McCray asked the robbery victim.
The man did not want to talk to WFTV, but showed up at the door with his two daughters.
WFTV told his neighbor, Eric Peisner, what police said happened. Peisner remembered hearing some loud noises Wednesday morning.
"My dog must've heard something and she went crazy.Next thing, before I went back to bed, I heard a car screeching off," Peisner said.
Investigators said the women raced down I-4, where the officer lost control of his cruiser and crashed into a light pole near Lee Road. Orlando and Winter Park officers were called in for backup and eventually found the Ford Explorer on Westmoreland Drive and 25th Street ( see map ) in Jacquelyn Riviera's driveway in Parramore. WFTV told her the twisted story.
"Is his wife back from out of town? Oh he's in a lot of trouble!" Riviera said.
Officers searched the neighborhood for the women, but did not find them.
The women left behind everything they stole. Police believe the women have committed similar crimes in the past and are hoping Wednesday morning's incident will lead them to an arrest, but the victim isn't cooperating.
"The crime is under investigation but he has not been cooperating," said Grindle.
Investigators have not released description of either woman involved in the crime.
Neighbors told WFTV the man who hired the prostitutes was caring for his three children at the time, two girls and one boy. They were all 7 years old or younger.
WFTV
