Cops: 2 teams of burglars target elderly

Thieves masquerading as utility and repair workers are preying on elderly homeowners in Nassau, stealing cash, jewelry and valuables before escaping, police said Wednesday. At least nine cases in South Shore communities have been reported since early December.

The criminals are working in teams of two, with one person luring the homeowner to the backyard as an accomplice sneaks through the front door. Two members of the two teams involved are women.

Officials released a pair of sketches and descriptions of those women Wednesday as they requested the public's help in the investigation.

"They are targeting our most vulnerable citizens, and they are literally preying on people who perhaps do not have the ability to distinguish a con artist and a legitimate utility worker," Deputy Insp. Kenneth Lack said Wednesday at a news conference at police headquarters in Mineola.

Suffolk police said Wednesday that detectives are trying to determine whether a recent similar case on North Emerson Avenue in Copiague, just across the county line, is linked to the incidents in Nassau County.

New York City police said three burglaries between Dec. 28 and Jan. 10 in Brooklyn were similar to the Nassau cases.

In each, a woman and a man distracted elderly victims and took items from their homes. One incident was recorded on video. No connection has been established with the Nassau County cases.

Officials said the burglars succeeded in five of the nine Nassau cases, and in the others they either did not find anything easy to steal or were frightened off by neighbors. Lack did not provide information about the value of items taken.

Lack said there may be more victims, possibly because the homeowner was unaware of the attempt, or because they were too embarrassed to report it.

Another police official said one of the nine known victims did not come forward, and the incident was reported later by a daughter.

One of the victims was 91, and all the others were older than 80, with the exception of one who was 68.

"No one's [been] hurt," Lack said. "They're very quick in their methodology and it's usually over in a couple of minutes. There's a whole host of factors which may have prevented them from stealing the property from the victim."

The first incident occurred Dec. 9 in Wantagh and the most recent on Jan. 4 in Oceanside, Lack said. Others were reported in Massapequa Park, Merrick and West Hempstead.

"We've been focusing a lot of attention on these burglaries," he said. "Perhaps that's been keeping them out of our area."

He said the thieves used a red car, a dark-colored minivan and a blue or gray sedan. All had Florida license plates, and Nassau police have been in contact with police in Florida and elsewhere, he said.

One of the female burglars was described as being about 30 years old with a medium build and blue eyes and wearing a woolen cap. She may have a "bulging or wandering eye," he said. The other woman is believed to be in her late 40s or early 50s with a stocky build, dark hair and eyes.

Anyone who recognizes the women, the vehicles or has any information regarding the incidents is asked to call Nassau Crime Stoppers at 800-244-8477.

With Bill Mason

and Kery Murakami