Authorities warn SWFL residents of ‘distraction burglars’

FORT MYERS, Fla. – Police want you to be alert the next time you open your front door. Distraction burglars are hitting homes across the Southwest Florida.

The most recent crime of opportunity happened off of McGregor Boulevard. One burglar lured a 92-year-old woman into her backyard. The man said he was installing a fence behind her home. That’s when his partner had the chance to go into her house and rob her.

Next time someone knocks on your door, police say don’t be so eager to trust.

“They’ll come up with whatever to get the person/homeowner outside their residence so the person they are working with can quickly slip in, grab some stuff and go,” said Lt. Victor Medico with the Fort Myers Police Department.

These thieves usually target elderly people. To blend in with the neighborhood they pose as utility workers, landscapers or contractors.

The victim’s neighbor tells WINK News he saw the whole thing. He never guessed the men who looked like they were working, were actually stealing right before his eyes. The burglars robbed the 92-year-old woman of money and jewelry.

Police say distraction burglary can happen anywhere. Another elderly women fell victim just days ago in Collier County.

Law enforcement in both Fort Myers and Collier County are still actively looking for the suspects. In the meantime, police ask to be on the alert and if something doesn’t look right, to give them a call.