INDIANAPOLIS — IMPD said it has arrested a 23-year-old man who is accused of eight armed robberies over the past two weekends.
Five of those alleged robberies happened Saturday, Jan. 6. Four of them allegedly happened within an hour of each other, all in the same area on the west side of Indianapolis.
"He literally hit me with the gun right there on my forehead. With the point of it where the bullets come out," said Candace Houston, who was warming up her car Saturday night, sitting in the driver's seat. Houston said she was getting ready to drive her grandchildren home.
"All the lights were on in the house, neighbors were out, neighbors were home. I just didn't think it was real," Houston said.
She said the thief opened the driver's side door, pointed a gun at her and took her purse.
"It hurts a lot," Houston said. "There's certain things I can't get back that he took from me."
Houston said she still hasn't gotten her wedding ring, cellphone and jewelry for her grandchildren back that were taken at gunpoint.
"As traumatic as these incidents were for the victims, we're thankful that nobody received any gunshots or anything like that as a result," IMPD Lt. Shane Foley said. "Thanks to the good work of our detectives and other units, he's off the streets of Indianapolis."
Police said this was one of eight armed robberies the suspect is accused of — but detectives believe he's responsible for 20 robberies in the span of a month.
Court records show the suspect approaches victims on foot while they're in their car or walking into their home, shows a gun and takes belongings they have with them.
"It shows the important work of our covert robbery unit and the work that they to do identify people responsible for these crimes who are bold, who have a carelessness for others in the community, but now, he's off the streets of Indianapolis, and hopefully, it will stay that way," Foley said.
Police said the suspect was arrested Saturday at a west side apartment complex.
Court records show investigators found several firearms, over $700 in cash, cellphones and a victim's wallet after searching an apartment and the suspect's car.
IMPD said this is still an active investigation. Court records show the suspect is due in court Wednesday morning.