Crime & Courts

Driver pistol-whipped in Anchorage carjacking; police seek missing Mercedes

Anchorage police want the public's help finding a car after its driver was pistol-whipped and the car stolen by a "group of males" Sunday morning, a police spokesman said.

The theft of the black, four-door 1996 Mercedes-Benz took place in the Mountain View neighborhood of northeast Anchorage. Police received a report of the theft at 9:54 a.m. Sunday.

The carjacking did not appear to be linked to other crimes, including a reported Saturday carjacking and the Sunday arrest of five teenagers following a 10-minute armed crime spree in the Spenard area around 2 a.m., said MJ Thim, a police spokesman.

"We don't believe this was a targeted attack," he said.

[Anchorage police arrest five in 'brazen' armed robberies]

The missing Mercedes is a C22 model with tinted windows, Thim said.

The violent theft occurred after a group of males walked up to the car at the intersection of Klevin Street and Peterkin Avenue, police said. They pointed guns at the driver, pulled him out of the car and hit him on the back of the head before stealing the car, Thim said.

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The car had Alaska license plate GVT807, police said.

Thim urged victims to call police as quickly as possible after a crime. In this case, the victim waited 30 minutes to an hour before calling police, Thim said. He said he did not know why the report to police was delayed.

Thim said the victim suffered minor injuries.

Police are also looking for surveillance video or other information related to the carjacking. People with tips can call 907-786-8900 or 907-561-STOP. Tips can be shared online at anchoragecrimestoppers.com.

Alex DeMarban

Alex DeMarban is a longtime Alaska journalist who covers business, the oil and gas industries and general assignments. Reach him at 907-257-4317 or alex@adn.com.

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