Send this page to someone via email

Police in Polk County, Florida say they have arrested three suspects in a series of robberies that were as violent as they were unusual.

On July 6, three young men walked into a Home Depot in Winter Haven in drag – including wigs, dresses, and open-toed shoes.

Police say they attempted to steal gift cards through the store’s self-checkout, resulting in a physical confrontation with a store clerk.

“When confronted by store personnel, [the suspect] grabbed the 69-year-old clerk and put her in a chokehold while the unidentified suspect scanned & activated the gift cards,” the Polk County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement.

Story continues below advertisement

Police say the teens were also suspected in a similar robbery at another Home Depot in Lakeland on June 22, where a 73-year-old store employee was assaulted.

“I’m still I’m still a little shaken about it even though it was a couple weeks ago,” Shirley West told WFLA News about the confrontation. Tweet This

“They did snatch the keyboard out of my hand, that was a little scary,” West added. “It knocked me off balance.”

READ MORE: Strangers on Florida beach form 80-person chain to rescue 9 family members caught in riptide

Two suspects were arrested in Louisiana after police identified their vehicle.

“They were in a truck in a hotel parking lot,” said Carrie Horstman with the Polk Sheriff’s Office. “Once their information was run, the detectives there saw that they had Polk County warrants.”

On Monday the third suspect was arrested in Tampa.

https://twitter.com/PolkCoSheriff/status/884508408413605891

“His Florida criminal history includes 29 prior felonies, and 22 prior misdemeanors,” police said in a statement. “He’s been in the HCSO jail as an adult three times, and sent to state prison for two years for robbery and grand theft. He was just released from state prison on May 1.”

Story continues below advertisement

Police are investigating whether the men are connected to any other robberies in the area.