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Transients scam elderly females
Article published on Tuesday, June 17, 2008 |
PINELLAS COUNTY – Sheriff’s detectives arrested a father and son on June 16 for their role in a vehicle repair scam that targeted elderly female victims.
According to a report from the Sheriff’s Office, the scams were all committed in mid-Pinellas County over the past month and involved a staged or bogus radiator problem which the suspects would offer “repair” for the victim in exchange for payment in cash or personal check.
According to detectives, the first reported incident occurred on May 14 when an 81-year-old woman was told that her car was leaking coolant as she returned to it in the parking lot of a Madeira Beach shopping center. The suspect pointed out a puddle of green liquid beneath her car and then charged $175 to replace an allegedly faulty radiator fan.
Over the next month similar reports were received from women between the ages of 75 to 85 years-old in Madeira Beach, Seminole and South Pasadena. In each case the suspects were described as an older and younger male in a blue pick-up truck.
After a victim provided the license plate number from the truck, detectives assigned to the Sheriff’s Office Economic Crimes Unit were able to tentatively identify the suspects as Phillip Holton, 46, and his son, James Thomas Holton, 24. Because neither suspect had a known permanent address detectives began conducting surveillance of locations that the men were previously known to frequent.
On Monday, detectives observed the men in the blue truck and followed them to the parking lot of the Rutland Plaza located at 1049 62nd Ave. N. in St. Petersburg. As detectives looked on, the older suspect crawled beneath a purple 1995 Nissan. Moments later he reappeared and wiped off his hands.
When the owner, a 67-year-old female, returned to the car and started the engine coolant gushed from beneath the car. Detectives then watched as the suspect approached the vehicle and offered to help. Detectives then intervened and the suspect and his son were taken into custody without incident.
The suspects were both arrested on one count each of grand theft, and scheming to defraud, in addition to six counts of burglary. Detectives said because other victims may exist who have not yet come forward additional charges are pending.
Anyone with additional information about these suspects is asked to contact Pinellas County Sheriff's Office Detective Mitch Reed at 727-582-6200.
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Article published on Tuesday, June 17, 2008
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