Four members of Broward County family are facing burglary and grand theft charges after authorities say they preyed on a elderly victim in a distraction burglary.
The Thompson family, including 21-year-old Skippy, 23-year-old Bill, 51-year-old Rocky, and 53-year-old David were all arrested Tuesday by the Broward Sheriff's Office burglary apprehension team working with detectives form the Boca Raton Police Department.
The four men made their first appearance in bond court Wednesday. It was unknown if they've hired attorneys.
According to an arrest report, authorities were conducting surveillance on a truck that pulled up to a Tamarac house Tuesday when they saw David Thompson get out and knock on the front door.
The 92-year-old woman who lives in the home, Mayetta Scartz, answered the door and David Thompson told her he needed to clean some debris from her back yard and told her to follow him, the report said.
Scartz didn't follow and went to her back door to meet him, but left the front door unlocked. While David Thompson distracted her in the backyard, the other three men went inside her home through the front door, the report said.
When the suspects left the home, they were followed by detectives, who pulled them over after discovering they had stolen two bank envelopes containing at least $500, the report said.
Local
"I hope they get thrown in jail for life, I don't like stealing," Scartz said.
Detectives said the family is part of a bigger ring in three South Florida counties.
Authorities are looking for more potential victims and are asking anyone with information to call Broward Crime Stoppers at 954-493-TIPS.
