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Deputies Seek Suspect In Home Invasion Robberies Of Elderly

Composite image provided by Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office

Hillsborough County deputies say this man targets elderly women at home alone and poses as a bug-control worker arriving for a prearranged spraying.

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By JOSH POLTILOVE | The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 18, 2009

Updated: 02/18/2009 01:51 pm

A man posing as a pest control employee has been targeting elderly women and stealing their jewelry.

Deputies haven't named a suspect, but they are circulating a rendering of the man, who is Hispanic and in his late 20s. Deputies say he weighs about 160 pounds, has a medium build, dark hair, dark complexion, a possible mustache and is between 5 feet 7 inches and 5 feet 9 inches tall.

Most of the victims are 80 or older, sheriff's spokeswoman Debbie Carter said. Between Feb. 3 and Monday, there have been four such home invasions in Hillsborough County – including three in the Sun City area. The man enters the elderly woman's home and begins spraying an unknown substance.

He took rings from an 83-year-old Sun City woman and a diamond bracelet from a 72-year-old Sun City woman, Carter said.

"The suspect tells the victims that he is there to spray for bugs and acts like the treatment was scheduled with the victim," a Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office news release states. "In every case the suspect has sprayed the victim on the arm or hand and immediately rushed them to the sink and told the victim that they need to wash the chemical off immediately and remove their jewelry."

The suspect takes jewelry and leaves the scene.

Similar incidents have occurred in Palm Beach County, which has active warrants for a white male: 29-year-old Danny Miller, deputies say. Sheriff's spokeswoman Debbie Carter said Miller isn't a suspect in the Hillsborough County incidents.

Hillsborough deputies think the victims were followed home from a shopping center or a store prior to the home invasions.

The suspect was last seen wearing a hat, a light flannel shirt, black cloth gloves and jeans. He was driving a small, tan, four-door vehicle similar to a Saturn.

People who have information about the suspect can call deputies at (813) 247-8200 or Crime Stoppers at (800) 873-8477.

Reporter Josh Poltilove can be reached at jpoltilove@tampatrib.com or (813) 259-7691.

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