Three women who were accused of staging car accidents in order to collect cash settlements were arrested last month on several charges.
Police began receiving reports back in December 2016 about the suspicious incidents that took place in Las Vegas, Nevada, and involved suspects Amanda Miller, 19, Sophia Nicholas, 28 and Barbara Miller, 38.
The trio would reportedly pretend to be victims of car crashes and lure people in for assistance, when they would proceed to rob them of money, their identity and other belongings, according to KTNV.
Authorities reported at least 35 instances where the women asked strangers to exchange personal information or give them rides to a new location, when they would steal money from their car or purse.
The women would use tactics that involved one distracting a ‘victim while another suspect would take any valuable items from the victim’s vehicle.’
Other times, ‘one suspect would damage the victim’s vehicle while the victim was being distracted, or the victim would be shown previously existing damage to the suspect vehicle,’ the newspaper reports.
‘The suspects would then attempt to get a cash settlement from the victim on the spot. In one case, the suspects coerced the victim into driving them to another location to retrieve cash.’
The women were arrested after Amanda Miller was taken into custody at Kohl’s near Charleston Boulevard and Durango Drive
Authorities reported at least 35 instances involving the trio in Las Vegas
The trio was taken into custody Aug. 13 and transported to the Clark County Detention Center for the scams.
Amanda Miller was booked on charges of staging accident scenes, burglary, conspiracy to commit burglary, and possession of a person’s ID being used to commit forgery.
Barbara Miller was booked on burglary, conspiracy to commit burglary, grand larceny, and other related crimes.
Nicholas was booked on charges including conspiracy to break or tamper with vehicle and conspiracy obtained by false pretense and grand larceny.
Vicki Harris, one of the women who fell victim to the scammers, since released a statement asking others who may have been involved in similar instances to come forward.
‘Do not pull over for them, and if there is any slight chance that they think they may have been hit, pull over somewhere that’s well-lit with a lot of people around,’ Harris told KTNV.
Harris said one of the women arrested spotted her outside the North Las Vegas airport back in May and attempted the scheme on her.
Police are looking for other suspects said to possibly be responsible for the crimes.
Authorities have asked victims or anyone with further information to contact Spring Valley Area Command Patrol Investigations Section at 702-828-2640.
They may also report anonymous tips to Crime Stoppers.