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Clearwater Robberies Of Hispanics Spur Education Outreach

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By YOLANDA FERNANDEZ | News Channel 8
and STEPHEN THOMPSON | The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 15, 2008

CLEARWATER - As the number of Hispanics getting robbed at gunpoint continues to climb, the city's Hispanic outreach center is trying to arrange workshops to encourage the city's Mexican population to keep their cash in banks.

That way, the Mexicans will lose their allure as prospective robbery victims, says Andrea Vendetti, the coordinator of Hispanic services at the city's Hispanic Outreach Center.

"They can open up a bank account and be safe," Vendetti said today .

The incidents have occurred in neighborhoods where the majority of residents are Mexican.

Vendetti's remarks came one day after three Hispanic men were robbed at gunpoint outside an apartment at 2057 Kings Highway. Clearwater police say one of the three was pistol-whipped and another was shot. The one who was shot is recuperating from a wound to the back at St. Joseph's Hospital in Tampa, officials and family members say.

The man's wife told a reporter that her husband was shot when he told the two thieves he didn't have any money. One of the thieves told him to turn around; then the man was shot in the back.

On Saturday night, a Hispanic man was sitting in front of his home in the 500 block of South Lake Drive when two men, at least one of whom had a handgun, approached him and fished his money out of his pockets, said Elizabeth Watts, spokeswoman for Clearwater's public safety departments.

The two incidents mark at least the 52nd and 53rd time that Hispanics have been targeted in a robbery in Clearwater since the beginning of the year, authorities say.

Hispanics are robbery targets because many don't have a car and instead take the bus or ride a bicycle, Vendetti said.

Watts said that to the best of her knowledge, the thieves have not uttered racial epithets as they rob the Hispanics. Rather, she said, investigators think Hispanics are targeted because they're known for carrying cash.

Vendetti said they may not know that even though they are undocumented, with an identification card from the local Mexican consulate office, they can open a bank account.

By all accounts, the Mexican population is concerned.

"They are scared," said Edward Andujar, owner the Mexico Lindo supermarket and restaurant.

"It's getting to a point where people are getting scared to get out at night," Andujar said. One concern is that Mexicans may start fighting back, possibly assaulting or harming an innocent bystander.

"It could get out of hand," Andujar said. "People are going to take revenge on people who have nothing to do with it."

Reporter Stephen Thompson can be reached at (727) 451-2336 or spthompson@tampmatrib.com. Reporter Yolanda Fernandez can be reached at (727) 536-8443.

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