Police Release Sketch In L.I. Burglary Pattern Targeting Elderly Residents
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Police on Long Island say a 91-year-old woman has come forward, saying she too was the victim of a burglary pattern targeting the elderly.
Authorities said that the most recent incident occurred on December 26 around 1 p.m., when a female suspect knocked the victim's door and asked to speak to her about yard work.
The victim accompanied the suspect into her yard for about 10 minutes before returning home to realize money, credit cards and jewelry were missing. The female suspect is described light-skinned, possibly Hispanic with large, bulging eyes and in her 20's.
Authorities have also released a composite sketch of the suspect.
Police also said that the suspect was talking to an unknown person on a Bluetooth ear piece at the time of the burglary.
The incident follows similar ones in the county. Earlier this week, Gilbert and Marie Soranson spoke about being victimized at their Massapequa Park residence.
Marie Soranson said she lost an engagement ring, wrist watch and amethyst ring.
The Soransons said someone knocked on their door around noon Tuesday, when a Hispanic woman explained she was a new neighbor doing work in the yard and asked him to come outside. That's when her partner in crime walked in the front door.
"I'm still in shock. I can't believe that he can walk into our house, go to both bedrooms, pick out the one he wants, the jewelry, and then walk right out," Marie said.
Nassau County police say it's happened seven times in the past two weeks.
"Usually they operate in groups. In one case, a man might go to the door and say that he's there to bury cables, and in another case a woman might go to the front door and say 'I want to talk to you. I just bought the house next door. I want to put up a fence. Come to the backyard and take a look with me because I don't want to be on your property line," explained Det. Lt. Kevin Smith of the Nassau County Police Dept.
Nassau County police are urging senior citizens to keep their doors locked and to not answer their doors for anyone they don't know. Anyone with any information about the case is asked to contact Crime Stoppers at 800-244-8477.
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