Keys Man Robs Pregnant Ex-Girlfriend: Police

Man rips purse from pregnant ex's arms, steals cash in daylight robbery

A Key Largo man is behind bars Wednesday after authorities say he robbed his pregnant ex-girlfriend as she was leaving a Western Union.

The robbery happened around 3:30 p.m. Tuesday as the woman was leaving Denny's Latin Cafe at mile marker 99.6 after she'd just picked up $200 in cash, according to the Monroe County Sheriff's Office.

Authorities say Ryan Anthony Pettit, 25, ran up and grabbed the unidentified woman's purse from under her arm.

She chased him, but said she was unable to catch him because she is pregnant and couldn’t run very fast," a sheriff's office report said.

When the woman turned a corner, she found her purse on the ground, with the cash missing.

Apparently unaware he'd been recognized by his ex, Pettit arranged to get a ride from the woman, who called the police and told deputies Pettit was waiting for her to pick him up near the Yellow Bait House at mile marker 101, the report said.

Deputies found Pettit there and arrested him on robbery charges. Pettit is homeless and works as a fisherman and boat mechanic, according to the report.

Pettit was being held without bond Wednesday. It was unknown whether he had an attorney.

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