Teen arrested for robbery with help of license plate readers and other technology

Murfreesboro police, in collaboration with Smyrna police, arrested a teenager over the weekend for a strong-armed robbery using automatic license plate readers, public safety cameras, and proactive police work.

Authorities took the 17-year-old into custody in Smyrna, charging him with robbery, criminal simulation, and identity theft.

MPD officers responded to a report of a strong-armed robbery on the 1600 block of Center Pointe Drive at 8:17 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 19. The victim had arranged to sell jewelry to the teen, who provided counterfeit money before grabbing the jewelry from her hands. When the victim attempted to retrieve her belongings, the teen allegedly struck her with his car while leaving the scene. Fortunately, the victim was not seriously injured.

Crime data analysts from the Real-Time Crime Center used license plate reader technology and public safety cameras to locate the car in Smyrna. Authorities recovered most of the stolen jewelry, approximately $1,000 in counterfeit currency, and a fraudulent Illinois driver's license.

Police encourage anyone buying or selling items to do so in a safe, well-lit area, such as the Safe Exchange Zone located in the front parking lot of the Murfreesboro Police Department, which is also monitored by surveillance video.

Officers took the 17-year-old to the Rutherford County Juvenile Detention Center.