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Scam Involves False Snake Removal, Deputies Say

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 26, 2008

Pinellas County sheriff's detectives are investigating a twist on an old robbery scam, this one involving thieves claiming they were hired to remove poisonous snakes from a homeowner's property.

Items are taken once the thieves gain access to the home, the sheriff's office said.

In past incidents, thieves told a story about checking for gas leaks, mold or termites.

The most recent robbery occurred about 11 a.m. Wednesday at a Pasadena home, detectives said. One man knocked on the door and told the homeowner he was a "snake pest control man."

Homeowner Marilyn Byrd, 80, told deputies that as the two were talking, the man sprayed her hand with what appeared to be snake poison he carried in a bottle. He said he had done it by accident and offered to treat her hand with warm water and milk.

The man used a walkie-talkie to call a second man, and they both went inside with Byrd.

One man helped Byrd put her hand in the milk and water and removed a ring from her finger, detectives said. The man told Byrd he was putting the ring in the refrigerator and that she needed to keep her hand in the milk solution for 10 minutes.

While her hand was immersed in the solution, the second man searched the house, detectives said. Byrd told deputies the men left before she realized the ring was not in the refrigerator.

Other valuables were missing, too.

The first man is 5-foot-6 to 5-foot-9, in his mid- to late 30s, with a thin to medium build and an olive complexion. He was last seen wearing a blue shirt. The woman could not provide a detailed description of the second man.

Such robberies typically occur in Pinellas County during the winter months and often target senior citizens, the sheriff's office said.

The sheriff's office offers these tips to avoid such scams:

•Never open the door for unexpected visitors.

•Never do business with people who you have not asked to come to your home.

•Verify the person's identity by asking for ID.

•Check to see whether there is a vehicle associated with the visitor.

•Call the sheriff's office at (727) 582-6200 to report suspicious activity.

Anyone with information on the snake control scam or any similar incidents can call Detective Curtis Skinner or Sgt. Charles Degenhardt at (727) 582-6200 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-873-TIPS (8477).

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