Baltimore Police Looking For Suspects In Machete Attacks

BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- The hunt is on for a band of robbery suspects--one with a machete. The group is behind several attacks in Southeast Baltimore.

Amy Yensi with more on who police are looking for.

Police are running into roadblocks in their investigation--they have not been able to identify the suspects and witnesses are too afraid to talk. Now they're calling on the public for help.

"It's terrible, it's horrible. You can't even walk out and be safe on the streets," one woman said.

People in Highlandtown are on edge. A group of three men, sometimes wearing ski masks and one wielding a machete, are behind a string of robberies and assaults.

"I think it's brazen in itself to attack anybody with a machete. We definitely don't want it to escalate any further," said Det. Nicole Monroe, Baltimore City Police Department.

In each case, the men chase, assault and try to rob the victim.

In the last two weeks, there have been three confirmed attacks and a possible fourth.

The band of suspects struck at night on Oldham Street, South Grundy Street and Esther Place.

Two victims sustained minor cuts, including one with a laceration on the head, while trying to fight off the attackers.

"That's a shocker because you don't hear things like that on this street. It's never been a violent street," said Lisa Terry.

Police believe the suspects are known in the community, but say some witnesses are too afraid to speak up because of their immigration status.

"We want you to be safe in your community. We don't care about your status," said Det. Monroe.

Police say the three suspects are young Hispanic men, but don't know their names or ages.

One woman says the neighborhood gets dangerous at night, when a lot of the drug activity happens. She's worried about violent crimes--a feeling she says won't get any better until the suspects are off the streets.

The suspects have only been successful in one robbery attempt, when they made off with a cell phone.

Police are stressing, however, the men do get violent when they don't get what they want.

Because the suspects may be undocumented, federal immigration officers are involved in the investigation.