North Miami Man Busted in 'Felony Lane' Burglary Ring

A North Miami man was one of three people arrested in a Florida burglary ring that targets women's purses left in parked cars.

Geffrey Pierre, 31, and his accomplice, 22-year-old Brittany Leann Branch, of Land O'Lakes, were arrested this week in Bunnell, according to the Polk County Sheriff's Office.

Pierre and Branch are suspected of burglarizing several vehicles in the Lake Wales area in what authorities say is a statewide trend known as "Felony Lane."

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According to the PSO, suspects scope out areas where women are likely to leave their purses in their cars, including schools, daycares, parks, gyms and churches. The suspects pull up next to the victim's car in a rental car, punch a hole in the window and take off with the purse, with the entire crime taking less than a minute.

Once the suspects have the stolen driver's licenses, they give them to women who use wigs and disguises to cash stolen checks. The women usually cash them at the farthest lane of the bank's drive-through, hence the phrase "Felony Lane," authorities said.

Authorities say Pierre and Branch did just that, using a gold Oldsmobile or burgundy Ford Fusion. The two are also known to have operated in the Miami area, the PSO said.

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A third woman, 28-year-old Kimberly "KK" Brogdon, of Orlando, was arrested in Orange County on Tuesday for similar crimes, the PSO said.

Polk County Sheriff's Office officials said the trend has been going on for awhile and there may be hundreds of victims across the state. They're urging women to not leave their purses in their cars.

Charges against Pierre, Branch and Brogdon are pending, and it's unknown whether they have attorneys.

The investigation is ongoing and anyone with information about the suspects or the "Felony Lane" trend is asked to call the PSO at 863-298-6200.

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