Police Searching for Thief Preying on Elderly

By Dave Jordan, NEWS 9

OKLAHOMA CITY -- Police are asking for the public's help tracking down a thief accused of preying on elderly women. He's accused of stealing credit cards and cash from at least two metro homes.

Police said this incident is the second time in recent months a man made off with cash and credit cards from two metro homes.

For the second time this summer authorities released video of the man in hopes the public will recognize him. Surveillance footage shows the suspect inside Smith Farm & Garden on NW 10 Street in Oklahoma City back in May. Police said he tried to buy a leaf blower with a stolen credit card and when the clerk asked for ID, he left, leaving the card behind. Now, it appears this man has struck again.

"It never dawned on me in the least that this was going to happen," said an elderly woman who asked to remain anonymous concerning the incident.

The 82-year-old said she fell victim to a similar scam by the same man. She first met him when he knocked on her door and offered to power wash her house. She accepted.

"They came back in later and they handed me a bill and I got the money and I came back in and I paid them," she said.

But after that, the men returned. One of them claimed to have lost a ring in her backyard. She locked the door and went to help the man look for the property. After they left, she noticed her home was burglarized.

"What really upset me is the fact that I locked my doors to keep them out of the house and they still go in," the 82-year-old said.

The woman recognized the suspect from surveillance video police showed her after she filed a report.

"We certainly want to make that segment of our society aware that this is going on and if they've heard or seen this person, we certainly want to hear from him," Oklahoma City Police MSgt. Gary Knight said.

It's the same goal this elderly woman has in mind.

"I'm only doing this whole thing so that somebody else would realize what they're pulling and they'll be able to stop them one way or another," she said.

The woman lost about $500 dollars in the theft.

If you recognize the thief, call Crime Stoppers at 235-7300.