Cumberland authorities: Man fakes car problems to rob good Samaritans

A man flagged down a passing driver on Black Bridge Road in Parkton at about 2:30 a.m. Friday, saying his silver, four-door sedan had stalled, authorities said. As the good Samaritan was attaching jumper cables to the sedan's battery, the man brandished a piece of pipe and demanded money. The victim fled the area, leaving his vehicle behind, authorities said.

About 20 minutes later, a similar car was seen along Sand Hill and Chicken Foot roads, and a second good Samaritan stopped to help. As the battery was being jumped, the man again brandished a pipe and demanded money, and when the victim said he didn't have any, the man hit him with the pipe.

The victim suffered a cut on his forehead and was treated at a nearby hospital, authorities said.

The man is described as white, about 35 years old, between 5 feet 9 inches and 6 feet tall, about 200 pounds and has some facial hair. He was wearing jeans, a gray hooded sweatshirt and a ball cap.

Anyone with information about the robbery attempts is asked to call the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office at 910-323-1500 or dial 911 for immediate assistance.