TMP Reports
Posted: Thursday, January 15, 2009 12:03 pm

A hitchhiker robbed a senior citizen of $20 cash and his Ford F-150 pickup truck after the driver gave him a ride Wednesday afternoon on State Street, Murfreesboro Police reported.

Victim James Buchanan, 68, of Spilt Trail thought the hitchhiker was someone else when he picked him up, Officer Shawn Haney reported. He drove him to Vine Street and Richardson Avenue where the man ordered Buchanan to pull over.

“This is a robbery,” the hitchhiker said as he kept his hand inside his pocket. “Give my your money.”

Buchanan handed him $20 and the hitchhiker took the truck keys and drove away, leaving Buchanan behind.

The robber was described as a black man about 6-feet tall and weighing 230 pounds. He wore a stocking cap, blue jeans and a jacket. He was about 20 years old. He fled in the silver truck.

In another case, Officer Marja Atchley reported victim Rose Baxter, 65, of Netherland Drive was walking to her vehicle when someone came up behind her and knocked her down about 5:15 a.m. Thursday outside her home.

“The suspect took her purse and lunchbox,” Atchley reported, adding she found her purse a few minutes later in her yard. She was not injured.

People who have information about the robberies are asked to call Crime Stoppers at 893-STOP or the Criminal Investigations Division at 893-2717.