Three men rob high school swimmer

Sarah Thibaudeau pulled into Martin Park just before 6 a.m. Saturday, the first to arrive for an early morning swim practice.

She waited in her car, alone, for the others to arrive. Next thing she knew, somebody was knocking on her car window with the barrel of a gun.

Three guys stood by the car, one of them pointing the gun ordering her to get out. She did.

"Where's the money?" one of them asked.

Thibaudeau, a 16-year-old from James Island, was scared. She and other members of the city's Southern Marlins Racing Team often hold morning practice at the downtown pool on Jackson Street. The swimmers knew there had been problems in the area, but had never before heard of armed robbery.

While she stood in the parking lot, the men took her keys and rifled through her trunk. They got a laptop, her purse, I.D., her credit card and her address. She didn't know what might happen next.

That's when some of the other swimmers, and her coach, showed up.

Two of the guys jumped on bicycles and took off. The third jumped in Thibaudeau's car and drove away. The coach chased the guy for a few blocks. Eventually, the robber jumped out of the car and ran.

All three men got away.

Thibaudeau's dad, Bob, said he and other parents have complained to the city about problems at the pool. After this, he says he's thinking about putting his daughter in another swim league. He doesn't like the idea of somebody having his daughter's identification, or her address.

"It's not a pleasant thing," he said.

Charles Francis, spokesman for the Charleston Police Department, said the men have not been caught, but patrols around the pool will be increased. Francis said officers know about the practice and normally drive by to check on swimmers, but thought they typically arrive at 7 a.m.

"We'll have somebody there in the mornings when the swimmers get there and we'll check on them throughout the morning," Francis said.

Thibaudeau said his daughter did the right thing by following the men's orders. She's upset, but isn't hurt. He said the police have done all they can, and hopes the extra patrolling will help.

"My daughter was lucky," Bob Thibaudeau said. "The next one might not be."