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Feb 2, 2009 11:05 pm US/Eastern
Elderly Ripped Off In Water Test Scam
Theft Caught On Tape
PARKLAND (CBS4) ―
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An apartment building's surveillance camera captured the image of a con man in Parkland who stole an elderly woman's wedding and engagement rings.
CBS
A thief using the now notorious "water test scam" distracted an 87-year-old woman and stole her precious $4 thousand wedding ring and $100 thousand 4-carat diamond engagement ring.
"I feel violated. Of course I feel violated," said Ethel Sommer. "I lived with those rings. I loved them."
Sommer and her 91-year-old husband, Dave, were returning from COSTCO to their condominium complex, Aston Gardens, last Wednesday when the incident happened. Sommer said they were met at their building's front door by someone who they thought was "a very nice man" and who even helped them with their groceries.
Sommer said the man, who she described as a thin, white, Hispanic male in his early 30s, about 5'9" tall with a "slight beard," was using a walkie talkie and told them he was conducting water tests in their building. "Stupid me," said Sommer. "I let him in."
The Sommers and the suspect are seen on surveillance tape walking down a hallway. He told her to turn on all the faucets and let the water run for 10 minutes. He asked for two cups to use so he could conduct the water test, and when he showed Sommer how water from one cup was foaming, he told her there was "something in it."
"He then told me to go the bathroom and he followed me. Then he tripped and he spilled what he said was acid on my hands. He told me to wash my hands and take off my rings and put them in another cup. Then he told me he had to go to his car to get something. But he never came back," said Sommer.
"When I looked around, I realized my rings were gone. It happened in just a second. I must have been looking away. I screamed for my husband, 'my rings are gone.'"
Sommer said she checked with the management office and found out that no water tests were being conducted. Her complex has since posted signs saying "No water tests are being conducted." Sommer said, "Next time I'll check everything."
When asked what she would say to the suspect if she could speak with him, she said she would tell him, "Go to hell." She says she is wearing a wedding band and an engagement ring that she recently bought with fake diamonds." She said, "I had to have something on my fingers after so many years with my real rings."
Dave said, "I feel very bad. But I'm glad we're alive. Had I known he was a thief, I might have challenged him. But I'm glad I didn't. We're still around. It's only money. We still exist."
The Sommers have insurance, but they are emotionally attached to the rings. On Feb. 13th, they will have been married 60 years.
Dave Sommer is known nationally. He founded the Rite Aid Pharmacy chain and was a longtime resident of Harrisburg, Pa. before he retired to South Florida. Sommer and his wife have four grandchildren and five great grandchildren.
Ethel Sommer is just one of several victims of this scheme. CBS 4 News interviewed a Pembroke Pines senior in November who fell victim to the same scheme. In her case, a man approached her at an intersection while they were driving and followed her back to her home.
The man wore an orange work vest and carried a can of spray that he said contained acid. The man claimed he needed to test her drinking water. At one point, the man said he accidentally sprayed acid on the woman's arm and told her to take off her engagement ring, wedding band, another ring and a watch.
The thief got away with all the jewelry and Pembroke Pines police tell CBS 4 they have not caught the man or recovered the jewelry. The can he left behind actually contained foam.
In January, CBS 4 News also met a Ft. Lauderdale senior scammed in the same way. A man said he worked for her condominium maintenance crew and needed to check her water. Once inside, the man bumped into her and said he spilled acid on her arm. Within minutes, the man was gone and so was the woman's 6-carat diamond ring.
The Broward Sheriff's Office issued another warning in the wake of this latest scam, saying they're trying to see if it's connected with the other similar operations in Broward. BSO spokeswoman Dani Moschella said, "If someone comes to your door, be skeptical. Make sure they are doing the work they say they are planning to. Check with your management offices to verify who they are."
Anyone with information about this theft is asked to call
Broward Sheriff's Office at
(954) 753-5050 or
Broward Crime Stoppers at
(954) 493-TIPS.
CBS4 Reporter Carey Codd contributed to this story.
(© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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