Criminals infiltrate Pinellas
Traveling families eye seniors, others
By THOMAS MICHALSKI
| Article published on Thursday, Nov. 15, 2007 |
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PINELLAS PARK – Police are warning residents to beware of the influx of organized crime “travelers” that are migrating to Central Florida after a “successful season” in the northern sections of the country.
The so-called travelers or families work as teams to steal and cheat residents and businesses out of money and other possessions through crooked home improvement and other scams.
Officer Donna Saxer, crime prevention officer, also warned that some younger family members have become more violent in recent years, partly due to their association with drug cartels.
Saxer said the groups during the spring and summer scammed innocent residents in northern states out of millions of dollars. They are gearing up for their annual operations in Florida and other southern states. Many travelers are based in Murphy, S.C. where they rest between seasons before launching operations here.
The families, also known as “gypsies,” have a history that goes back centuries. Among the most notorious are the “distraction thieves” that prey on small businesses and homeowners. While one talks with the victim others steal cash, jewelry and other possessions. Gang members mail their booty to out of state addresses so they are not caught with stolen property.
Saxer said many families are establishing themselves in Central Florida, particularly in Pinellas County, because of its dense population. Saxer called them “masters of disguise” because they carry multiple forms of identification.,
South American and European families are into construction scams. Saxer said Florida is a prime target because of the large senior citizen populations that are victimized through lotto scams, fortune telling, palm reading, pest control and all forms of home repairs.
The National Association of Bunko Investigators warns about travelers who prey on the elderly. One scam involves convincing seniors that their money and/or jewelry is cursed and must be buried in a certain spot, only to be removed later by the thieves.
One of the oldest scams involves a stranger approaching victims to report the discovery of an envelope containing a large amount of money. The scammers are willing the share their find, if the victim puts up some “good faith money.”
The association warns people about get rich schemes and the multitude of other schemes such as magazine subscription, home repair, credit repair and other illicit acts that are designed to part people from their money or possessions.
“There is an old saying that if it sounds too good to be true than it is,” Saxer said.
Persons who feel they are about to be victimized should call police at 911.
“Our officers are trained to deal with organized criminal families and to protect innocent people from losing their hard-earned money and possessions,” Saxer said.
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Article published on Thursday, Nov. 15, 2007
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