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Pasco County woman arrested for robbing two elderly drivers in two counties

 
Pasco Sheriff's Office deputies were searching for a carjacking suspect who stole an 83-year-old woman's car early Thursday in a Port Richey Publix parking lot. [Photo courtesy of Pasco County Sheriff's Office]
Pasco Sheriff's Office deputies were searching for a carjacking suspect who stole an 83-year-old woman's car early Thursday in a Port Richey Publix parking lot. [Photo courtesy of Pasco County Sheriff's Office]
Published Oct. 30, 2015

Authorities in two counties have accused a 26-year-old Pasco County woman of robbing two elderly drivers this week.

Investigators identified Amber Rae Arnesen as the woman accused of carjacking an 83-year-old woman in the parking lot of a Publix in Port Richey on Thursday morning. Later that day, Clearwater police said Arnesen accosted a 71-year-old woman in the Whole Foods parking lot at Westfield Countryside Mall.

Arnesen, of New Port Richey, faces charges of strong armed robbery and carjacking in the Pasco incident. According to the Pasco County Sheriff's Office, Arnesen approached the 83-year-old woman and asked if she needed help loading groceries into the car. The woman said no, according to deputies, and Arnesen walked away.

She returned a short time later, reached into the 83-year-old's pocket, snatched her keys, hopped in the car and drove off, according to the Sheriff's Office.

About five hours later, Clearwater police say a 71-year-old woman was getting in her car at Whole Foods when Arnesen pushed her and grabbed her purse from the front seat. The woman fought back, ripping Arnesen's shirt during the struggle. Arnesen then got into the passenger seat of a Cadillac and fled, police say.

She was arrested in Largo about 3:30 a.m. Friday. Authorities say they recovered the 2003 Cadillac DeVille that Arnesen was accused of stealing from Pasco. She faces a charge of robbery from Clearwater police, who said Arnesen made a "full confession."

Arnesen, of 6131 Arneson Court in New Port Richey, was being held Friday in the Pinellas County jail in lieu of $300,000 bail. Jail records show she is also wanted for violating her probation on several criminal charges out of Dixie County.

Clearwater police said they're still looking for a male suspect who will also likely face charges.