COCONUT CREEK, Fla. – An 84-year-old woman held on to her oxygen tank on Wednesday and said she is living in fear in Broward County.
It has been about a week since a fraudster distracted Eileen while a thief stole about $40,000 in jewelry from her home in Coconut Creek. She said she had “a good cry” on Tuesday night.
“I am learning the hard way because I always trusted people.”
The two fraudsters showed up at the home where she has lived for more than three decades in the Kanada community, near the intersection of Lyons Road and West Sample Road.
She said the strangers — who were hard to describe because they were wearing face masks and hoodies — persuaded her to let them inside by claiming they worked for the homeowners’ association and were there to make repairs.
“What he was saying was so logical ... It doesn’t surprise me because I had a woman fixing my washing machine two months ago.”
The victim said the two burglars worked together: The woman distracted her with unnecessary details while the man stole from her.
She felt like something was suspicious and told them to leave, but it was too late. The long list of the items the duo stole includes a priceless gold wedding ring and a $5,000 gold bracelet made for charms.
“It’s things I wanted to leave for my grandchildren.”
Her neighbors put up a flyer warning to “never answer the door for anyone that you don’t know. If they say they have work to do that you don’t know about do not answer.”
She is asking anyone with information about the thieves to call the Coconut Creek Police Department at 954-973-6700 or Broward County Crime Stoppers at 954-493-8477.