Deputies Seek Cop Impersonators That Targeted Elderly Lady

April 20, 2011

The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the report of a man and woman impersonating police officers on Wednesday and defrauding an elderly Pensacola woman.

The couple approached the victim between 3 p.m. and 4 p.m. at her residence in the 7000 block of Aaron Dr. and told her they were investigating her grandson for stealing money from her checking account.

After allowing the suspects to enter and search her home, the victim was told that she needed to accompany the two to her bank and transfer funds out of her account.
“The suspects in this case identified themselves as police officers and threatened the victim with arrest if she didn’t cooperate with them,” said sheriff’s office spokesman Deputy Chris Welborn. “They convinced the victim that this was standard investigative procedures and she trusted them.”

The victim told deputies that she allowed the female suspect to drive her vehicle to her bank while the male suspect followed in a white sport utility vehicle.

While at the bank, deputies say that the female suspect told the victim to fill out a withdrawal slip for $5,000 and sign it. The suspect obtained the victim’s identification card and the withdrawal slip and took the money from the account.

The victim was driven back to her residence and told by both suspects to keep this matter confidential, and if she didn’t she could be subject to arrest. The male suspect then handed over her checkbook but it is believed he kept some of her unwritten checks.

Shortly after this incident a second check was cashed for an additional $5000.

The male suspect was described by his victim as black, between 30 to 40 years of age and well-dressed and groomed. He was said to be wearing a white shirt with unknown type pants. The female suspect was also black but the victim was unable to give a detailed description. They were last seen traveling in a white sport utility vehicle.

“These two preyed upon a vulnerable member of our society and they should be incarcerated as quickly as possible,” Welborn said. “We do not need people like this roaming free.”

Deputies are reminding people that they should always ask to see the badge and commission card of anyone not wearing a uniform that claims to be a law enforcement officer.

“Our investigators and plainclothes officers are required to carry these forms of identification on them while conducting business,” said Welborn. “Also, we will never ask you to provide us with money or ask you to transfer funds from one of your accounts.”

Anyone with information about this case is asked to call the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-9620 or Gulf Coast Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP

Comments

12 Responses to “Deputies Seek Cop Impersonators That Targeted Elderly Lady”

  1. art on April 21st, 2011 1:44 pm

    and just how did these two know she had a grandson and how much to withdraw?

  2. Jackie Johnson on April 21st, 2011 10:42 am

    This incident is the very reason children need to check regularly on their elderly parents, if need be offer to help them balance their accounts and if it gets as large as the one indicated see if the parents will transfer to a savings account. Also, encourage elderly people not to let others fill out their checks as this is a way for store clerks, etc. see what is in their accounts.

  3. David Huie Green on April 20th, 2011 8:51 pm

    where’s a good sausage grinder when you need one?

    David considering appropriate response

  4. Terri Sanders on April 20th, 2011 8:47 pm

    Seems to me the bank employee should have been paying more attention to this.I doubt this lady ususally withdraws large sums of money.Wake up tellers!

  5. RETHA MILSTEAD on April 20th, 2011 7:21 pm

    I HOPE THEY CAN LIVE WITH THEIR SELF.THEY WILL PAY TO THE MAN UP STAIRS.

  6. RETHA MILSTEAD on April 20th, 2011 7:20 pm

    IN THE OLD DAYS THE WOULD BE SHOT OR HUNG.

  7. Sharpstuff USA on April 20th, 2011 3:00 pm

    Bless her heart, that is the oldest trick in the book.

    People who prey on the elderly have a special place in society- the muck at the bottom of the barrel. Please, NEVER let anyone into your home you did not initiate contact with. Call the Sheriff’s Office 436-9620 if you have doubts. They will be happy to help you avoid disaster.

  8. Name (required) on April 20th, 2011 2:13 pm

    I hope there was video collected from the bank’s security cameras….
    … I hope they release some of the video or at least some of the sitll images while the story is still ‘fresh’.

    These people need to be arrested and go to prison for a long time.

  9. EMD on April 20th, 2011 12:56 pm

    If you are trying to make a living honestly and need help, ASK for it. If you are not, shame on you. This is disgusting. So is pride.

  10. EMD on April 20th, 2011 12:29 pm

    GRRRRRRRRRRRRR >:O

  11. little raine on April 20th, 2011 12:26 pm

    Get these low lifes and put them under the jail.

  12. OldMarine on April 20th, 2011 12:16 pm

    wow I can not believe she allowed them into her home much less /

    Just the description would have told me they were most likely criminals

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News