A man with autism was repeatedly punched in the head and robbed while lounging on Fort Lauderdale beach and now police are looking for the two men who beat him and stole his cellphone.
It happened about 9:20 p.m. Wednesday across from Beach Place at 17 State Road A1A, investigators said.
The two suspects approached the man, who was sitting in a beach chair on the sand, and asked him for money but he hesitated because he was confused by the question, police said.
That’s when the suspects struck the man in the face several times before grabbing his cellphone and taking off. The man suffered several cuts and scrapes, investigators said.
The two suspects were later seen on surveillance video crossing State Road A1A toward Beach Place. Both wore dark short pants and one wore a dark T-shirt while the other was shirtless. He wore a thick neck chain with a pair of sunglasses hanging from it, the video showed.
Investigators are asking anyone with who recognizes the men in the video or who has any information about the strong-arm robbery to contact Detective Erik Kirtman at 954-828-6070.
Anonymous tips can be given to Broward Crime Stoppers at 954-493-8477 or online at browardcrimestoppers.org.
wkroustan@sunsentinel.com or 954-356-4303 or Twitter @WayneRoustan
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