"Police officials reported an uptick in scams in which suspects swiped necklaces and rings right off kindhearted older adults who were sweet-talked into supposedly helping them when lost. According to NYPD Lieutenant Kevin Kelly, the perpetrators who included three Romanian nationals arrested on robbery charges previously have targeted seniors at their homes or while walking down the sidewalk. The grifters stopped the seniors and asked for directions."
"Cops said they would then offer a purportedly expensive necklace to them as a thank-you for their assistance. But while placing the necklace on the seniors' necks, Kelly noted, the crooks would take their actual belongings. Generally they're asking for directions, or they see the person with jewelry, and they say, My mother or my father had similar jewelry.' Oh, you know, they start telling them personal stories, and now they want to thank them."
"Kelly said, explaining the MO. We've seen an uptick. And of course, with the summer months, people are wearing their jewelry. NYPD Lieutenant Kevin Kelly.Photo by Dean Moses The NYPD is warning New Yorkers of a widespread jewelry scam robbing seniors of their gold throughout the five boroughs."
"In one Queens case, on March 13, police said a 22-year-old woman walked up to the home of a 76-year-old woman near 210th Street and 9th Avenue in Whitestone. She asked the victim for directions before removing a necklace worth $3,000. The thief was later identified as Stefania Alexandru of Romania. Police said she was cuffed in the confines of 108th Precinct in Long Island City on March 25 when she allegedly stole another chain, this time valued at $2,500, from a 69-year-old woman in the area."
Police reported an increase in scams targeting older adults across New York City. Suspects approach seniors at homes or while they walk, ask for directions, and then claim they want to thank the person with a costly necklace. While placing the necklace on the victim, the scammers take the seniors’ actual jewelry. The scheme often includes personal stories and references to family members having similar jewelry. Investigators said perpetrators have included Romanian nationals arrested on robbery and grand larceny charges. In one Queens case, a 22-year-old woman removed a $3,000 necklace after asking for directions, and additional suspects were later charged for other thefts. Police said the group has stolen more than $90,000 since February.
Read at www.amny.com
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