Broward Sheriffs Office

Neighbor Asks Elderly Couple for Cup of Sugar Then Demands Money at Gunpoint

An elderly couple were held at gunpoint by their neighbor who demanded they give him their banking information, authorities say.

Louis Rosen, 99, and his wife Irene Rosen were at their Tamarac home Friday afternoon when their neighbor's son Leonard Benitez, 45, came over and asked to borrow some sugar, according to Broward Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Gina Carter. After the couple let Benitez in, he pulled out a firearm and demanded their banking information so he could take out $50,000.

Carter says Benitez was in the home for about two hours when, at some point, Irene Rosen was able to call 911. Once Benitiez realized deputies arrived, he fled to his home. Deputies set up perimeter around Benitez's home and called in a SWAT team. Benitez surrendered to the SWAT team.

During the robbery, Benitez struck Louis Rosen in the head with his firearm, according to Carter. Louis Rosen was treated at North Broward Health for a laceration.

The Robbery Unit and Crime Scene Unit investigated the incident.

Contact Us