Family accused of burglarizing homes by distracting elderly homeowners

TAMARAC, Fla. – A family of four has been arrested in connection with a series of home burglaries in which elderly homeowners were targeted.

Skippy Thompson, 21, Rocky Thompson, 51, Bill Thompson, 24, and David Thompson, 53, were arrested Tuesday while Broward County sheriff's detectives, in conjunction with the Boca Raton police, conducted a surveillance operation.

According to Broward Sheriff's Office detectives, David Thompson knocked on the front door of Mayetta Scartz's home in Tamarac and told her that he needed to clean debris from her yard and treat her lawn.

Detectives said the man asked Scartz, 92, to walk with him to the backyard. During that time, the other men entered the victim's home and stole several hundred dollars from her bedroom, authorities said.

Detectives believe the group has committed several distraction thefts that targeted seniors throughout Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties.

All four men face charges of burglary and grand theft. David Thompson also faces a possession of cannabis charge, and Rocky Thompson faces a charge of driving with a suspended license.

Anyone who believes they may have been targeted by the family is asked to call Sgt. Valerie Devlin at 954-321-4100 or Broward County Crime Stoppers at 954-493-TIPS.

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