CORAL GABLES, Fla. – The Coral Gables Police Department said it has seen an increase in burglars who have been posing as workers and who are targeting the elderly.
At least three people have been victimized recently.
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According to police, the thieves pose as construction or maintenance workers who are spraying for ants, or landscapers or tree trimmers who claim they have been working on the neighbor's lawn.
Police said in each case, one or more people distract the homeowner, while an accomplice enters the home and steals valuables from the victim.
Police said the culprits have bogus photo identification cards, uniforms and vehicles that are made to look like government or company vehicles.
Police have released a sketch of one of the burglars.
In one case, a man came to the victim's front door and said that he had to inspect the property due to a property line dispute. There was construction being done at the neighbor's home. Detectives said the victim became suspicious because the man kept delaying the victim from returning to the house.
In two of the burglaries the burglars were described as white men. One group left in a blue SUV and another left in a gray SUV.
In the third case, the burglar was described as a Hispanic man. The victim was unable to provide a description of the vehicle the man was driving.
Anyone with information about the burglaries is asked to call Coral Gables police at 305-442-1600 or Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at 305-471-TIPS.
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