Teens target immigrants for quick cash

AUSTIN (KXAN) - Carlos Lugo decided to stay home from work Tuesday after walking out of his front door around 6:00 a.m. to find a man running toward him pointing a gun toward his face.

The demanding words the suspect yelled are etched in his mind.

"Where's your wallet? Give me your wallet. Give me your wallet," said Lugo.

Carlos showed where one suspect had been hiding by neeling behind the electric meter on the side of his mobile home. His wife and two young daughters, ages six and eight were safe inside.

Carlos said he handed over his wallet which contained a driver's license, social security card, green card and $15. He caught a glimpse of a second suspect around the corner who ran away with the one who reportedly robbed him.

He described them as two black males between 15 and 20 years old. Both were wearing red shirts and black pants. Black bandanas were covering the bottom half of their faces.

Police say Lugo's home off Loyola St. just east of Highway 183 was the first of five stops for the suspects. The two moved Northwest and hit a home nearby on Alsace Trail about ten minutes later.

Residents leaving two apartment complexes west of 183 near 290 were targeted between 7:00 a.m. and 7:30 a.m.

Capitol Village was one and Regency Apartments was the other where Angel Quintanilla felt a pistol pushed against his head.

"I don't know what he said in English, but in Espanol it's said "te voy a matar," said Quintanilla.

It translates to "I'm going to kill you."

Angel said he was in the process of picking up his friend Miguel who was shoved against the front door of his apartment and threatened as well.

Both handed over their wallets and called 911 a few minutes later.

Police say all of the victims are immigrants and believe the suspects viewed them as easy targets..

"I suspect they're thinking if the people aren't in the country legally, they'll be less likely call the police," said Dan Arizpe, a robbery detective with the Austin Police Department.

Police are following leads and believe the two suspects are familiar with the area where the crimes happened. Anyone with information is asked to call the Austin Police Department robbery tip line at 512-974-5092.

Suspect #1:

• shoulder length braids/dreadlocks with multi-colored beads
• thin mustache
• 15 to 20 years old
• thin build
• approx. 5”9’ to 6’0” tall

Suspect # 2: 

• straight, shoulder length hair (possibly a wig)
• may have had a full goatee
• 15 to 20 years old
• thin build
• approx. 5”9’ to 6’0” tall