ABC 33/40 - Birmingham News, Weather, SportsCrime Stoppers Jan. 17: Tips needed to ID suspects in recent carjackings

Crime Stoppers Jan. 17: Tips needed to ID suspects in recent carjackings

*Surveillance video from these cases will be seen Tuesday night on ABC 33/40 News at 10:00 and again Wednesday on Good Morning Alabama.  The video will be uploaded to our main site Wednesday morning.*

Crime Stoppers is asking for anonymous tips to help detectives identify and locate suspects in a handful of recent robberies and carjackings.

The most recent case happened in Brookside on Monday.  Two other cases happened in Birmingham in December.  Details on the cases are below.

(If you are viewing this story on a mobile app, see our main website for suspect pictures.)

BROOKSIDE CARJACKING, SHOOTING:  Surveillance cameras from the Town and Country convenience store captured images of two men who are accused in a carjacking that happened moments after the men left the store.

The carjacking happened along Cherry Avenue in Brookside Monday morning between 11:15 and 11:30.  Jefferson County detectives said the victim had pulled over in the driveway of an abandoned junkyard to use her cell phone.  Deputies said the men seen in the surveillance images climbed into the woman's car and forced her to hand over her phone and the car itself.

"She was shoved out of her vehicle onto the ground," Sergeant Brian Allison said.  "She gets up, and at some point, they shoot her in the top of the foot."

Detectives said the men (pictured, above right) got away in the victim's silver 2000 Toyota Camry.  Deputies said the car had damage to its front bumper and on the rear of the car.  As of Tuesday afternoon, the car had not been located.

"This is not going to have a whole lot of resale value due to the physical damage to the vehicle," Allison said.  "This is going to be something, I would imagine to be more of a joyriding situation.  They're going to use it until it starts running low on gas."

Crime Stoppers hopes someone can identify the men based on the surveillance images.  If you can help, call Crime Stoppers at the contact information listed below, and you will be kept anonymous.  If your tip is the first that leads to an arrest of either suspect, a cash reward is waiting.

"We need to find out who these people are and put them behind bars," Allison said.

BIRMINGHAM ROBBERIES, CARS STOLEN:  In this case, Birmingham detectives searched local convenience stores looking for images of suspects following two robberies that ended with stolen cars in late December.

Their search ended up with pictures of two suspects (seen above right).  One man was seen wearing a Chicago Bulls cap and jeans.  The other man is in a long white shirt and khaki pants.

As in the Brookside case, Crime Stoppers needs anonymous tips from the public to identify the suspects in the Birmingham robberies.

"We don't have a name to go with the face and the pictures," Detective Pat Green said.  "More than likely, they're going to be running together.  So we just need the public to take a look at this, and see if they can ID any of these guys."

The first robbery took place at the Aspen Run apartments off Robert Jemison Road.  In that case, the victim was robbed of personal belongings and a Chrysler PT Cruiser that was later recovered.

The second robbery happened outside an apartment building in Avondale.  A man was robbed of his personal belongings, including a set of car keys.  Later that night, the man's wife looked outside and noticed someone had driven away in the couple's Chevrolet Tahoe SUV.

The suspects pictured are believed to be two of four men who committed the first robbery.  The suspects are also accused in the second robbery, along with a third man who was not seen on-camera.

"It's possible that they could be from the Avondale area," Green said.

If you recognize either man from the surveillance images, call Crime Stoppers at the contact information listed below.  And as always, all callers remain anonymous, and a cash reward is offered.

TO PROVIDE A TIP ON EITHER CASE:  You can reach Crime Stoppers anytime at (205) 254-7777.

Also, you can text 7777, along with your tip, to the word "CRIMES."  Or if you prefer to send an encrypted tip online, go to www.birminghamcrimestoppers.org and click on the "submit an online tip" link.

No matter which method you choose, you will remain anonymous.  Each tipster receives a private code number.  If an arrest is made based on an individual's tip, the tipster can use the code number to claim a cash reward.

Crime Stoppers cannot call tipsters to testify in court.

Crime Stoppers of Metro Alabama is a partnership between local law enforcement, the Birmingham Business Alliance and ABC 33/40.  Together, our goal is to make our community a safer place to live and work.