Unfortunately in today’s world, senior citizens are particularly targeted by thieves, scammers, and all types of offenders, both male and female. The Miami Springs Police Department urges senior citizens to become familiar with the following examples of crimes and profiles of criminals. By staying informed, you will reduce the chances of becoming a victim, and enable the police to arrest those who prey on the elderly
Solicitors
The City of Miami Springs prohibits soliciting without a permit in residential neighborhoods.
According to city code, section 114-02: “It shall be unlawful for any solicitor, peddler, itinerant merchant or transient vendor of merchandise to collect orders for the sale of goods, wares, or merchandise, or try to attempt to dispose of goods, wares, or merchandise by barter and sale in any private dwelling, apartment, or other place of residence without having obtained a permit to do so from the Chief of Police.”
The ordinance is designed to protect citizens from unscrupulous solicitors who go door-to-door in neighborhoods hawking shoddy wares, offering services whether licensed or unlicensed to perform, or conning their way into homes to steal valuables. Senior citizens are particularly targeted by cons, swindlers and thieves.
The ordinance prohibits residential soliciting to try and sell products or services, or ask for contributions and donations.
Residential Crime Prevention Tips
Don’t open your door to strangers. Look out a window first to see who is at the door or, if you don’t already have a peephole, have one installed. If someone doesn’t look like they belong in your neighborhood, or if you feel that something just isn’t right, call the police.
Profiles of Crooks & Con Men
Many con artists are professionals in that they are well-dressed, polite and courteous smooth-talkers who say the right things to gain the trust of their intended victims. They are usually overly friendly and complimentary and often try to distract their targets so they can get inside residences.
Fake IDs and uniforms
Many legitimate workers wear laminated photo IDs on chains or lanyards around their necks, and con men have picked up on that image. Wearing fake IDs makes criminals appear to have an official position or job. Some crooks even add to that image by carrying a clipboard or briefcase.
Another visual image criminals assume is that of a utility worker, complete with a fake utility company name patch on a shirt similar to those worn by legitimate utility workers. Some criminals even add a metal name plate or name patch over a shirt pocket, along with a photo ID on a lanyard.
If you’re ever in doubt as to the legitimacy of a utility worker, city worker or county employee, call the police immediately.
Common Residential Con Games & Illicit Schemes
- A man or a woman, sometimes carrying an infant or accompanied by a young child, will ask for money to buy gas for a vehicle or to hire a cab for a medical emergency.
- Two men will come to your door and say they are with the water company and are ordered to test your kitchen tap water. When you accompany one man into your kitchen, the other man will go into your bedroom and steal anything of value. A new twist on the scam has occurred in South Florida. An alleged water inspector will say he has to test your water and put some in a container while you watch. He will secretly add an ingredient that makes the water foam and accidentally on purpose splash some on your hands. He will say the liquid contains acid and urge you to remove your rings and wash your hands with soap. The man will then take your rings and leave.
- In early May, a man pretending to be an exterminator stole a 2 ½ carat diamond wedding ring from an elderly woman at her Coral Gables home. According to police, the 79-year-old woman had just returned from the supermarket when she noticed a man supposedly spraying bugs near her home. He said he was an exterminator and began spraying near her garage. The woman told the man to leave but he sprayed her hands. The phony exterminator told the woman the liquid was acid and she needed to wash her hands quickly. He went into the bathroom with the resident allegedly to help her but he soaped up her hands, stole the ring and ran. The thief was described as being in his late 30s or early 40s, 5 feet 7, 160 pounds, with brown hair.
- A man will come to your door and say he’s going to put up a fence or do maintenance work on your neighbor’s property and he wants your okay on a boundary or some other matter. When you go around the side of your house with the man, an accomplice who has kept out of sight will enter your house and steal valuables.
- A man appearing to be a contractor or blue collar worker will knock on your door and offer to trim your trees, repave your driveway, repair a dent on your vehicle, or perform some other service for a bargain price. He will ask for a deposit to buy materials, and if he gets advance money, you will never see him again. Some alleged workers will start a job before asking for money for supplies to finish the job. Then he will disappear.
- Some con men bring carloads of teenagers into an area and send them out to knock on doors to sell candy or other items allegedly to raise money to combat drug use or for some other phony cause.
- Some swindlers carry spray bottles with an allegedly super cleaning liquid and immediately try to clean your car or anything in sight. It’s a scam.
- A con wearing an ID will knock on your door and say he is going around meeting neighbors and try to shake your hand. Don’t fall for it. He will attempt to get you to enter a fake contest or donate to an allegedly worthy cause.
- If you are in your yard and a vehicle stops and a stranger calls you over to allegedly ask for directions or says he is looking for a lost pet, go inside and call the police.
- If a stranger knocks, it’s better to let him know someone is home without opening the door because if a burglar thinks the residence is unoccupied, he might break a window or kick open a door to enter and commit a burglary.
- Beware of people who look suspicious or behave suspiciously, even if you see them at a neighbor’s house. Most residents inherently know what type of people or vehicles belong in their area. Go with your instincts.
Miami Springs Police Officers proudly serve the city and don’t want you to become a victim. If a solicitor knocks on your door, call the police at 305-888-9711. If possible, supply a description of the solicitor and his or her vehicle. NEVER HESITATE TO CALL THE POLICE!
Note: Presently, no one has a permit to solicit in the City of Miami Springs. In the future, if a permit is issued by the Chief of Police, the name of the issuant will be listed on the MSPD website.
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Distraction Thieves
Citizens should remember that distraction crimes are committed by both males and females, usually adults, and they work mostly in pairs.
Generally, distraction thieves are professionals; well-dressed and well-spoken men and women who do their deeds mainly in retail businesses such as supermarkets and discount superstores, mall stores, hotel lobbies, car rental agencies, and airport terminals, among other places. Crimes take place in both daytime and nighttime.
Distraction thieves also pull their crimes outdoors in the daytime, in parking lots of businesses and banks; anywhere people would normally feel relatively safe. During daylight hours, good citizens are more likely to be trusting and helpful to others. Distraction thieves count on that trait.
Perfect Targets for Thieves
The reason distraction thieves focus mainly on senior citizens is because they are more trusting of strangers and less likely to engage in a physical altercation with a thief if he or she is caught in the act. Also, senior citizens are less likely to be accompanied by young children, which could complicate a theft.
Distraction thieves mainly target women because most carry handbags, which are easier to steal, and it’s easier to take a wallet from a handbag than pick a man’s pocket.
In supermarkets and major discount stores, women tend to put their purses in shopping carts. Distraction thieves generally look for large handbags that are open at the top. Zipped handbags or those that have a snapped fold-over flap are usually avoided if the thief only wants a wallet. However, distraction thieves have been known to take the handbag if they can’t get only the wallet.
It only takes a matter of seconds for distraction thieves to get your handbag or purse and leave the area.
How Thieves Operate Inside Stores
One distraction thief approaches a likely target, always from an angle that forces the soon-to-be victim to turn away from her handbag in a shopping cart to address the stranger. Most women can expect the distracter to be a mature person. The thief will ask the target a seemingly innocuous question; possibly for an opinion on a product, where a certain item can be located, or another question that will divert the victim’s attention for a few seconds.
During that amazingly short amount of time, the distracter’s accomplice will dip into the target’s handbag, remove the wallet, cell phone, checkbook, and anything else of value, and slip away. Most victims never see the accomplice, and by the time a victim realizes the loss, both thieves are long gone.
How Thieves Operate in Parking Lots
Again, remember that distraction thieves look for easy targets, such as a senior female carrying a handbag, even if the victim is with a companion. A distracter will usually approach the target and ask for some type of assistance. Female thieves have been known to feign an illness, pretend to need directions, or pretend to be looking for a lost child. Once a concerned victim is distracted, the accomplice will steal the victim’s handbag.
Sometimes, a thief will wait until the target gets into her car. Then the distracter will tell the victim that she has a flat tire or that someone has bumped her car. When the victim gets out to look at the problem, an accomplice will snag her purse from the front seat.
Other distraction thieves plan ahead. They loiter in store parking lots watching for a likely target to park and go into a store. Then a thief will puncture a victim’s tire and when the target returns, the thief (usually a male) will offer to help change the tire. Usually when the trunk lid is up, an accomplice will grab a handbag from inside the car and both thieves will quickly disappear.
Beware Distraction Thieves at Banks
Like all crooks, distraction thieves know that banks are where people with money can be found. Remember, many thieves are professionals and they try to perfect what they do to make money and, more importantly, not get caught.
Distraction thieves sometimes have a third accomplice when working in and around banks. One member of the gang is inside the bank checking to see who received a sizable amount of cash from a teller. The target might put the cash inside a handbag or bank bag. Then the inside man follows the chosen target from the bank to the parking lot, signaling an accomplice along the way.
The distracter usually approaches the target at his or her vehicle, using a ruse to distract their attention. One distraction is the punctured tire scam. A successful thief is one who can separate the target from his or her purse or bank bag. That’s when the accomplice moves in to steal valuables.
At one bank, a victim was getting into his car when a man rushed up and said the victim must have dropped some money because there were dollar bills on the ground. When the victim got out of his car to pick up the money, the first man’s accomplice stole his bank bag.
Prevention Methods
If you carry a handbag when shopping, use one that has a zipper or snap-flap closure. More importantly; never let your bag out of your sight especially when it’s in a shopping cart. If you turn away from your shopping cart for any reason, pick up your handbag and hold it in front of you.
A handbag with a shoulder strap is a good choice, but never let the bag hang on the side behind an arm because a stealthy pickpocket can easily remove your wallet. An ideal method of preventing theft would be to carry cash, credit cards, and a driver’s license in a front pants pocket, but that isn’t practical for most women, because they have a habit of carrying a handbag.
In today’s society, it’s a shame that good citizens have to remain alert even in the most mundane of everyday situations, but crime is a reality and law-abiding citizens need to be aware at all times.
If You Become a Victim
Call the police immediately and give a detailed description of the thief or thieves. Also, notify management if you are inside of a business. Besides dealing with the monetary loss to distraction thieves, as soon as possible, the victim should notify his or her bank and credit card companies. Then the victim has to deal with replacing his or her driver’s license, Social Security card, insurance card, vehicle registration, and any other important piece of identification that was stolen.
Unfortunately, victims of distraction thieves have little chance of retrieving their stolen property, so the best way to keep from becoming a victim is to be ever-vigilant and on-guard. Be wary of strangers, no matter how “normal” they seem. Professional thieves prey on the kindness of others but a crime-wary citizen can still remain thoughtful and helpful to those who are truly in need without becoming a victim.
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Recent Scams
Lottery Winner Scam
This con game has been going on since the lottery was instituted in the state. The fake lottery winner scam is usually pulled on Spanish-speaking victims but some victims were English-only speakers. Over the years, the scam has been pulled numerous times in the downtown Miami Springs area, usually in the area of the grocery store.
Here's the way it works:
A Hispanic man (or a woman in a few cases) will approach a target and say that he has just won the multi-million dollar Florida Lottery. He will show a counterfeit winning ticket and say that he can’t collect his winnings because he’s an illegal alien.
While he is pitching his line, another person (a man or woman) will stop by and join in the conversation. The second person is an accomplice. The so-called lottery winner will offer to share his millions with anyone who will put up “good-faith” money. The con man’s accomplice will readily agree in order to encourage the victim to do the same.
Once the target in convinced to put up money to share in the millions, the two crooks will accompany the victim home and to the bank to gather all the cash he or she can acquire. The cons will usually convince the victim to use his or her car for the trip to the bank.
Once the criminals see the money, they will tell the victim to put it into an envelope, allegedly with the cash put up by the accomplice. Using distraction, the cons will switch envelopes and then make an excuse to get out of the car and say that they will return shortly. When the victim tires of waiting, he or she will find nothing but paper inside the envelope.
Lottery scammers mainly target Hispanic middle-aged people and senior citizens. Unfortunately, few swindlers are ever caught, and police believe that some victims don’t report the crime because they are embarrassed.
Unlicensed Contractors
In these tough economic times it’s difficult turning down a bargain but unlicensed contractors should be avoided because they are known for doing shoddy work or not completing the job.
The way to avoid becoming a victim is to ask the contractor for credentials. A professional contractor should have no problem providing identification and license numbers. An added protection would be to write down a contractor’s vehicle tag number and take a photo of the man or woman.
Those things might make homeowners uncomfortable but residents should stick to their requirements. Be mindful that illegitimate contractors will have alleged reasons for not providing proof: they haven’t received their license yet, they just applied the day before, or they don’t carry it with them. Not good enough.
Protect Yourself by Checking Things Out
Always check the license of a company or individual by logging onto MyFloridaLicense.com or calling the Department of Business and Professional Regulation at 850-487-1395.
When Online
Type in the name of the individual, company or license number. If there is no license, report the person or company by calling: 866-532-1440.
Don't Believe Stories
According to the regulatory agency, if there is a license, it will appear on the website.
A website check will tell you if the license is current and in good standing. Also, complaints and disciplinary actions are public record.
Lien Protection
Get a release of lien covering all workers and material for jobs that cost $2,000 or more. This removes your property from the threat of a lien if anyone is not paid by the contractor. Without a release, a person who supplied building materials can claim to have not been paid.
References
Get multiple estimates and personally check each reference before hiring a contractor.
Advance Payment
Avoid contractors and individuals who ask for money up front.
Checks
When dealing with a company, don’t write checks to individuals.
Written Word
Get everything in writing, including a detailed description of the work. Make sure the writing is legible.
Completion
Don’t sign a certificate of completion unless you are totally satisfied with the work.
Thefts at Gas Pumps
The crime of stealing purses from vehicles at gas stations is on the rise. Police said that once the word gets out among criminals, they all start doing it.
Here’s the way it works: A woman is busy pumping gas when a man pulls up next to her car, opens the opposite door or reaches into an open window, and grabs the woman’s purse. Then the thief drives away.
Sometimes criminals work in pairs, and while one distracts the victim usually with a question, his accomplice steals the purse. In a few instances, victims were men who had left a wallet or bank bag on the front seat.
Locking your car while at the gas pumps is a deterrent but in a few instances, a thief broke a window to steal a purse while the victim was inside the service station/convenience store.
Besides the monetary loss, a stolen purse or wallet means you have to get new identification, driver’s license, checkbook, in addition to canceling credit cards and having your locks changed if keys were in the purse.
The key to avoid becoming a victim is to lock your car and not let yourself become distracted.
Phony Repairman Attacks Woman
Pompano Beach police said a man attempted to rape a woman in her home but fled when he was bitten by the woman’s Boston terrier.
The victim said the man wore a gray uniform and baseball cap and carried a clipboard. She believed he was a legitimate repairman because she had asked her landlord to have a broken thermostat repaired.
When the man attacked the woman, the dog bit the attacker on the shoulder and he fled.