ST. JOHNS COUNTY, Fla. — Three home invasion suspects were taken into custody after fleeing from St. Johns County to Orange County Wednesday.
The home invasion happened after one of the suspects, Sierra Kennedy, helped set up a robbery at a home where she was on a date, according to an arrest warrant from the St. Johns County Sheriff's Office.
Police said that Kennedy met the victim at his home after meeting him online. The two "began drinking cocktails and socializing," according to the warrant, before they heard a knock at the door.
Kennedy allegedly told the victim that it was her abusive ex-boyfriend at the door; he told her not to open the door, but she did anyway.
A masked man then entered the apartment, holding a handgun. He took money from the victim's wallet. Sometime during this exchange, police said it became clear that Kennedy was working with the masked man.
The pair is accused of taking several items, as well as forcing the man to transfer them funds through Venmo.
First Coast News crime and safety expert, Mark Baughman, said people should be vigilant when using online dating websites.
"You don't have to tell them where you live." Baughman said. "You may take an Uber and get dropped off instead of use your own car. You may even get dropped off at a different location and then go home from there. There's a number of things you can do to build yourself some security with this type of situatiom."
The two then fled the area, leading to a cross-state police pursuit.
First Coast News' sister station, WESH reported investigators used license plate readers and cameras to track Kennedy's car.
On Wednesday, the Osceola County Sheriff's Office tracked the car and went after it, reports WESH.
The Osceola County Sheriff's Office, who assisted on the pursuit, says that the suspects fled from the area of the home invasion in St. Johns to Brevard County. They drove on through Osceola County and Orange County, where they abandoned the car and fled into the woods. This is where they were apprehended.