Court paperwork details carjacking outside RTS

Carjacking

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ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Rochester Police have made an arrest after a woman was robbed at gunpoint Monday night.

Police say around 9 p.m. they responded to the RTS Transit Center on St. Paul Street for reports of a gunpoint robbery. The victim told officers she was waiting for a friend to get off the bus when a man went up to her car and threatened her with what appeared to be a gun, demanding her phone and car.

Police say the victim got out of her car and the suspect drove off in it with her phone.

Officers tracked the car to a parking lot on North Clinton Avenue, in the area between Scrantom Street and Evergreen Street with the help of NYS Police. The suspect was arrested and taken to Monroe County Jail. All the victim’s property was recovered.

Police have identified the suspect as 30-year-old Tramieke Austin. Austin is charged with robbery in the first degree and grand larceny in the fourth degree.

According to Court paperwork, the woman says the suspect approached her in her car, and first asked for the time. Then, she says the man asked for money, and told her to get out of her car.

The woman says she pleaded to keep her dog, and her phone. The dog was not reported stolen, but the car and cell phone were.

RPD Capt. Greg Bello said there have been about 20 reported carjackings in the city, over the last two months.

RPD has been getting help from New York State Police, and they assisted in the RTS carjacking investigation.

“Our officers, we’ve made over half a dozen arrests, including one over the weekend which recovered a ghost gun associated with it,” said Bello. “We also partnered with state police, they’ve provided additional patrols over in the area where the robberies are occurring, in the eastside of the city.”

Police said they do not know of any connection between the victim and the suspect in this latest case.

It’s not the first time Austin was arrested for robbery. He was in jail for robbery in the 1st degree in 2016, and released on parole in 2021. It’s not clear how long he served on parole.

RPD’s advice for the public: travel in groups or with one other person when it’s dark out. Be aware of your surroundings. When you park, avoid staying in your car and scrolling on your phone.