Woman arrested for allegedly robbing woman, threatening to harm her baby in Jupiter
Although neighbors watch out for each other, unfortunately, police say that did not stop Yeimy Gomez Romero, 24, of Fort Lauderdale from preying on a woman who lives on 5th Street in Jupiter. (PBSO)
JUPITER, Fla. (CBS12) — Police have made an arrest in a shocking incident in Jupiter.
A woman from Fort Lauderdale is charged with preying on a woman and her eight-month-old son.
The Jupiter Police Department says she used the child as a way to rob the woman, just days before Christmas last December.
Police say a woman was outside her house on December 13, 2022, cleaning her side patio when a woman approached her.
The victim didn't realize what was going on until it was too late.
"I'm shocked!" said Candis Clarke, the victim's neighbor.
Clarke, a retired nurse, has lived in this Jupiter neighborhood for about two years.
See also: Two arrested in connection with Dwyer High School student's drowning
She lives on 5th Street, not far from a woman who was victimized and robbed.
"What's shocking is how kind and caring the neighbors are to one another here and how they watch over each other," Clarke said.
Although neighbors watch out for each other, unfortunately, police say that did not stop Yeimy Gomez Romero, 24, of Fort Lauderdale from preying on a woman who lives on 5th Street in Jupiter.
She told her she needed help and asked to use her phone to make a call.
Moments later, another woman drove up in a red car.
Andres-Hernandez, who was holding her eight-month-old baby boy, got into the backseat, offering to show them how to get to the El Sol Center---a non-profit agency in Jupiter that helps immigrants.
Along the way, the women in the car stopped on 6th Street in Jupiter and grabbed her eight-month-old baby, and threatened to hurt him if she didn't give up her valuables.
They stole her jewelry, purse and cell phone and then let her and the baby out of the car and sped off.
A next-door neighbor says this incident does not surprise her. We spoke to her through a translator.
"We have to be careful with the kids. The truth is here people said several times there is a lot of kidnapping and robbery, that's why I'm careful and watching who I'm talking to," said Rosario Lucas, who has an 11-month-old daughter.
"What do you think is the answer? How do we prevent that kind of stuff from happening?" we asked Clarke.
"Education," Clarke said.
"What do you mean? " we asked her. "Uh, teaching people to be careful who you answer the door to. There are scams out there, there's robbery out there," Clarke said.
Gomez Romero is facing several criminal charges.
She's being held at the Palm Beach County Jail on a $200,000 bond.
It appears Jupiter Police are still looking for the woman who drove the car—described as a white female with blond or yellow hair, between 45 and 50 years old.
According to the arrest report, the value of the jewelry, cell phone and purse that were stolen is about $2,000.00.