Police arrest 3 armed robbery suspects

HIALEAH, Fla. (WSVN) -- Police have arrested three men who they believe were about to rob a store.

Hialeah Police arrested three men Monday morning who, they believe, were about to commit an armed robbery. Police setup a perimeter in the area of west 44th Street, between 12th and 16th Avenue to search of a fourth suspect.

Miami-Dade Police had assisted in the search, and there were as many as 25 dogs searching the area. By 2 p.m., police broke down the perimeter, as that fourth subject seemed to have eluded captured.

Officials had placed Westland Hialeah Senior High School on lockdown as a precaution during the search. That lockdown has been lifted, according to the school board.

Police said, four men were circling a parking lot in a stolen car when an undercover officer spotted them. "This morning he noticed a car with four males inside circling a jewelry store right before opening hours," said Hialeah Police Detective Carl Zogby. "The officer radioed in the tag, it turns out to be a stolen car. When he gets near this car, the car starts to flee with the four subjects inside, a short pursuit begin in a nearby residential neighborhood and the subjects abandoned the vehicle and ran off on foot."

Police arrested two men a couple blocks away from the scene where they were first spotted. The third man was found soon after. "We've caught three of the subjects, and there's one at large," Zogby said.

Police said there have been some robberies in the area recently, so they have stepped up their patrol, using unmarked cruisers and undercover police officers to monitor the scene. Authorities believe today's arrest could be related to other recent robberies.

Police said this incident may be related to a similar incident that took place on Saturday, outside the ABC Jewelry store, which was robbed at gunpoint in late July. Witnesses called in reports of men in car with masks on. When police arrived, the suspicious men were gone.

Police believe the fourth suspect could be armed and dangerous. If you have any information on this last suspect, call Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at 305-471-TIPS. Remember, you can always remain anonymous, and you may be eligible for a reward.

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