A Florida woman, Esther Torres, has been sentenced after being accused of luring men to hotel rooms, pepper-spraying them, and stealing their luxury watches.
The incidents, which took place in late March, have led to Torres’ conviction on charges of armed robbery, burglary, and grand theft. Initially arrested on two counts of robbery in the first degree, Torres’ case concluded with a plea agreement.
The Incidents
The first robbery occurred at the Breakwater Hotel, where Torres pepper-sprayed her victim and stole his Hugo Boss watch directly from his wrist. Along with the watch, she also took over $200 in cash, Euros, and several credit cards.
In the second incident at the Fontainebleau Hotel, Torres attacked another man, pepper-spraying him and stealing his $22,000 Rolex Submariner. The victim in this case claimed that he was temporarily blinded by the pepper spray during the robbery.
Surveillance Footage and Investigation
In both incidents, police were able to identify Torres through surveillance footage from the hotels. This footage showed her leaving the hotels after the robberies. Police also sought help from Mitch Novick, the owner of the Sherbrooke Hotel, who provided additional surveillance footage to aid the investigation.
Arrest and Legal Proceedings
Torres’ identification came after an unrelated traffic stop in April. She was linked to the crimes when police recognized her from a “need to identify” flyer.
In May, she was arrested, and body-worn camera footage of the arrest showed Torres having a child in her car at the time. Initially detained without bond, Torres was later granted a recognizance bond and released in late June.
Sentencing
On Wednesday, Torres was sentenced to five years of probation, concluding the legal proceedings against her. This case highlights the dangers of criminal activity disguised as harmless interactions, and Torres’ actions have left a lasting impact on her victims.
