Police: Group of four responsible for most of January robberies

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE) - Police have linked a suspect in one January apartment robbery to one more armed robbery that happened the same day.  Detectives think that suspect is one in a group of four people who possibly worked together and were responsible for the majority of January's string of apartment robberies.

Police arrested Devonte M. Hamlet, 20 , of Fort Wayne on January 22. At that time, Hamlet was charged with two counts of robbery with a deadly weapon and three counts of criminal confinement in connection to a January 10 robbery at the Island Club Apartment Complex.

Timeline: January apartment robberies and attempts

According to probable cause documents filed on February 11, Hamlet is now being charged with three more counts of robbery with a deadly weapon, three more counts of criminal confinement, one count of battery and one count of burglary resulting in bodily injury. These new charges are in connection to an armed robbery that occurred at about 11:30 p.m., an hour later than the Island Club Apartment armed robbery.

NewsChannel 15 was the scene the night of the armed robbery at the Cambridge Square Apartments.   According to court documents, Hamlet and another male suspect entered an unlocked apartment without permission and armed with hand guns.  Once inside, they forced two male victims to the floor at gun point and bound them with zip ties.

The suspects then went upstairs and woke up a third victim.  While trying to bind him, the victim is said to have punched Hamlet's accomplice in the face.  Hamlet then hit the victim in the head with his hand gun, bound the victim with zip ties, and covered his head with a blanket.

Hamlet and his accomplice were said to have collected cell phones, $600 in cash, and other electronic items from the apartment before leaving.

As the suspects were leaving, the victim who was woken up broke himself free from his zip ties, got a handgun from his closet and fired at the suspects, according to court documents.

At 11:35 p.m. that same night, Hamlet was dropped off at the Parkview emergency room on Randallia Drive suffering from two gun shot wounds.

Raquel Foster with the Fort Wayne Police Department said Hamlet is only one of four suspects behind most of January's apartment armed robberies.  Investigators are working to gather enough evidence to arrest the other three.  Foster said the four suspects possibly worked together and took turns fulfilling roles in the robberies.

Foster said separate investigations are ongoing for the rest of at least 13 robberies in January.

January apartment robberies and attempts

1. January 7, 2013, 10:58 p.m. - 5100 block of Stonehedge Blvd, Canterbury Apartments: A man and woman reported being approached by two men at the entrance of the apartment building. Both men had guns and took the victims' iPhones, purse, wallet, credit cards, and cash.  No injuries were reported at the scene.
    
2. January 8, 2013, 12:00 a.m. – 2000 block of Ardmore Ave., Autumn Creek Apartment Complex: A woman told police two men walked into the apartment building with her, one brandishing a gun. The two men forced her into her apartment. One man held a gun on the woman while the other searched the apartment. A wallet with credit cards and cash, and a notebook computer were reported stolen.  No injuries were reported at the scene.
    
3. January 8, 2013, 9:18 p.m. – 5400 block of N. Clinton St., Gardenview Apartments: A man said he was approached by two men with guns at his car in the parking lot. They robbed him of  his iPhone, wallet, and keys. No injuries were reported at the scene.
    
4. January 8, 2013, 9:34 p.m. – 5400 block of N. Clinton St., Gardenview Apartments: A woman said one man with a gun approached her at her car and robbed her of her purse that contained her wallet, credit cards, cash, and other personal items. No injuries were reported at the scene.
    
5. January 8, 2013, 8:24 p.m. – 6400 block of Covington Rd., Colony Bay Apartments: A woman said two men with guns approached her as she was checking for mail at the mailbox. Her purse and cell phone were taken.  No injuries were reported at the scene.
    
6. January 8, 2013, 9:05 p.m. – 2100 block of Ardmore Ave., Autumn Creek Apartment Complex: A man said he was forced into his house at gunpoint by two men. Various household items were taken. No injuries were reported at the scene.
    
7. January 10, 2013, 9:30 p.m. – 2300 block of East Wallen Rd., Island Club Apartment Complex. Two armed black men in their late-teens or early 20s, wearing dark clothing, forced a woman into her apartment. They bound the hands of the three occupants in the apartment and threatened to kill them if they called police. Police said