Accused carjackers used Offer-Up app to lure victims, deputies say

ORLANDO, Fla. – The Orange County Sheriff's Office made three arrests Friday in regard to two carjackings that happened in the same area and on the same day.

Four victims had their cars stolen after arranging to meet with people who were selling iPhones using the Offer-Up app.

Once victims asked what the prices were, the suspects put a gun to their heads, took their money, belongings and cars, leaving one victim beaten, authorities said.

The first of the two crimes occurred on 19th Street and Clarcona Road, where deputies say victims claimed they were robbed by three men. The two men were reported as Lavelle Prince and Kelvin Lewis, with the third robber identified as a juvenile.

The victims said that after discussing the sale of the iPhone for several minutes, two men got out of the car and pulled out what looked like black handguns, according to authorities. The men then took several pieces of the victims' personal property, including $500, a wedding ring valued at $800, a men's Orient watch valued at $500 and a Samsung Galaxy 5. 

Also stolen were several credit cards, a Social Security card of one of the victims and a Samsung Galaxy 7 cellphone, authorities said.

The suspects then drove off with the victims' car while the victims were forced to walk to a Circle K, where they then called Apopka police.

The second carjacking came later that night in a different location on 19th Street. In a similar incident, the suspects discussed the price of the iPhone for sale, then the men forced the two newest victims to drop to their knees, authorities said.

The suspects forced the victims to unlock their phones, then they took their car and phones after hitting one of the victims with a gun to force compliance, according to the affidavit.

The Orange County Sheriff's Office put out a "be on the lookout" alert for the robbers before finding the cars and the gun that was involved with the crimes and successfully conducting a pair of tactical takedowns.

According to deputies, two of the three suspects confessed to the crimes, with one denying his own involvement.