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Lakeland Robbery Suspects Arrested In Georgia

Photo courtesy of Lakeland Police Department.

Police say the two men posed as customers and then ambushed and robbed the real estate agent at the cottage she owns on South Boulevard in Lakeland.

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TBO.com

Published: April 11, 2008

Lakeland police say Georgia authorities have arrested two men who robbed a real estate agent here then fled in his car.

Investigators say Steven Ray Swords, 37, and Robert C. Lewis, 47, were arrested after a similar robbery Thursday in Georgia.

In the Lakeland case, the pair posed as interested renters on April 2 and then held the real estate agent at knifepoint, tying him up and taking his green Nissan and credit cards, Sgt. Terri Smith said.

The credit cards were used at local department stores, Smith said.

Thursday they drove the Nissan to a car dealership in Douglas County, Ga., and said they wanted to buy a new car, Smith said. During a test drive in a white Mustang, they held a knife on a dealership employee, forced him to remove money from an ATM, then left him bound with duct tape, authorities said.

The man called police, and a deputy spotted the Mustang on Interstate 20 and gave chase. The Mustang crashed, injuring both men, authorities said.

They were treated and now are in a Georgia jail.

Swords is charged with armed burglary, armed robbery, armed kidnapping and armed carjacking in the Lakeland case. Lewis faces similar charges, Smith said.

Both men also have charges pending in Georgia.

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