Distinctive jacket helps police ID strong-armed robbery suspect

MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- A Milwaukee teenager has been arrested and is facing charges in a string of strong-armed robberies that all involved the same victim -- an elderly woman!

"The odds of an elderly woman being victimized over and over again is unheard of really," MPD District 6 Captain Diana Rowe said.

A Milwaukee police officer was investigating an entry complaint on Sunday, May 4th in the 4600 block of S. 20th Street when he noticed a woman wearing a distinctive jacket that was used in three strong-armed robberies in the same area.

We are told the jacket is a black, hooded jacket with silver writing that reads "Let's Party!"

The strong-armed robbery incidents happened in December 2013 and January and February of 2014 and involved the same elderly victim, an 80-year-old Milwaukee woman.

In all of the incidents, money was stolen from the victim and in one case she was handcuffed during the crime.

Captain Rowe described to FOX6 News what happened during the first incident.

"Had gone to the Pick 'n Save, was returning to her apartment and in the hallway an unknown female pushed her into the door, held her down and took money from her," Captain Rowe said.

The elderly woman gave a vague description of the suspect, and suffered minor bruising.

Then, in January, it happened again.

"There was a knock at her door and the same suspect forced her way into the house," Captain Rowe said.

In February, the teenager handcuffed the 80-year-old woman, ransacked the apartment and took the woman's money.

During the interview of the subject wearing the jacket on May 4th, the officer learned that she had a younger sister who had the same jacket and who matched the description of the suspect in all three incidents.

The officer showed a photo array to a witness who positively identified the younger sister as the person he saw near the victim’s residence on the night of one of the offenses.

The suspect was taken into custody and confessed to all three crimes.

"She confessed to all three instances and said she continued to do it because it was so easy - because the elderly woman was such an easy victim," Captain Rowe said.

A search warrant was executed, and police say they found a diary in the suspect's room, in which she had detailed the crimes.

The suspect is a 15-year-old Milwaukee female. She faces three counts of strong armed robbery.

The case will be referred to the Milwaukee County District Attorney’s Office in the coming days.