The vehicle used by thieves to escape Friday's sensational bank roberry in Coral Gables was recovered by the FBI Saturday afternoon.
A spokesperson said a tip was called in about 1 p.m., that a red Mustang had been abandoned overnight in the parking lot of an apartment complex on Alhambra Circle just south of Dixie Highway.
A bomb squad examined the car before it was deamed safe to approach.
The location is just blocks from the Bank of America where 25-year-old teller Diego Uscamayta was held hostage, strapped into what appeared to be an explosive device, and forced to rob his own employer of what sources say was at least $100,000.
"One of the tenants actually called it in. They recognized it from the news," said Bonnie Perkins, owner of the the Riviera Isles Apartments. "I guess because it's close to the bank, they found a good hiding place."
Uscamayta told police the thieves arrived at his family's apartment around midnight Friday, holding him and his father hostage until morning. He was then taken to the bank in his own car, a 1998 model Mustang, while one of the men stayed behind with his dad.
Once Uscamayta handed over the cash, the kidnappers drove off in his car. He was eventually led in handcuffs from the building and questioned for 8 hours before being released as an FBI spokesperson confirmed he was considered a victim and not a suspect.
While the vehicle has been recovered, the whereabouts and identities of the robbers remain a mystery. Authorities towed the car to an undisclosed location for evidence processing, and declined to say whether anything had been recovered from the car.
Uscamayta was questioned again at his home after the car was found. An FBI spokesperson classified the visit as "follow-up questioning."
