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PLEASANT GROVE -- Police are looking into two carjackings that they say are connected.
It is very unusual to have a violent crime in Pleasant Grove, so people are unnerved by all of it. Even the police are calling it bizarre. But in both cases, the victims had a gun pointed to their face.
The trouble started just after 9 a.m. Sunday morning in a neighborhood on the west side of town.
"Apparently, he pointed the gun at his face and told him that he was going to steal the car," said Detective Jordan McNaughton of the Pleasant Grove Police Department.
The victim got out of his way and the gunman got into the car and drove away, dumping the vehicle behind a grocery store minutes later.
We don't know if they are going to strike again and if they will in our city or they will pick a different city. We're not sure what their plan was, but our officers are out there being proactive, keeping an eye out.
–Jordan McNaughton
At about the same time, police got another call about a carjacking on the east side of Pleasant Grove, but this time, it was a different suspect, also armed with a gun.
"He got into the vehicle, the victim backed away, and for whatever reason, he decided not to take the vehicle," McNaughton said. "He stepped outside of the vehicle with his firearm still in his hand and he fired two shots into the air."
That's when a getaway car with two people inside pulled up and the gunman got it.
"The suspect descriptions are different and the time frames are so close together," said McNaughton. "We believe it is two separate incidents, but connected."
Police won't speculate on what those connections may be, but they do admit it is a cause for concern.
"We don't know if they are going to strike again and if they will in our city or they will pick a different city," McNaughton said. "We're not sure what their plan was, but our officers are out there being proactive, keeping an eye out."
Police said they have a few theories about what is going on, but will not elaborate at this time. The descriptions of the two men are vague, but both are said to be about 18-25 years old. The getaway car was reported to be a white Subaru with Colorado license plates. One of the victims did manage to get a partial plate, with the numbers 346.
If you have any information, please give Pleasant Grove Police a call at 801-785-3506.
Email: spendrod@ksl.com
