NORFOLK, Va. — Norfolk police said the Brink’s armored vehicle robbery on Tuesday was an inside job.
Detectives said the robbery was staged just after 11 a.m. in the 7600 block of Granby Street. The Brink’s employee told detectives that a man wearing a black motorcycle helmet robbed him at gunpoint and stole cash.
An extensive investigation was launched by robbery and fugitive detectives with the FBI and the U.S. Marshal’s Fugitive Task Force.
“Upon investigating all the facts and circumstances of this case, we were able to determine that the original victim, the Brink’s employee, was actually an accomplice and helped devise the fake robbery, with an acquaintance, to conceal the stealing of a large amount of cash,” a robbery detective said.
Officers arrested the Brink's employee, 26-year-old Joshua Mercado from Chesapeake, and 26-year-old Keith Doughty of Chesapeake.
Mercado has been charged with grand larceny, conspiracy to commit grand larceny, embezzlement, conspiracy to commit embezzlement, and obstruction of justice of making a false police report.
Doughty has been charged with robbery, use of a firearm in the commission of a felony, wearing a mask, conspiracy to commit grand larceny, embezzlement, and conspiracy to commit embezzlement.
Both men are being held in the Norfolk City Jail without bond.