Report: Thieves Scam Elderly Victim at Walmart, Steal Her Cash at Amscot

The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office is asking for the public’s help in identifying a man and woman who spun a tale that eventually led to the theft of money from an elderly woman in Brandon.

According to the report, the 77-year-old victim was loading groceries into her car at the at 1208 Brandon Blvd. on March 30, around 11:30 a.m., when she was approached by a man and woman who eventually stole more than $40,000 from the victim.

They reportedly almost upped that theft by more than $10,000 but were stymied by a worker for Amscot who became suspicious and contacted the elderly woman’s family.

How did the elderly woman, during a routine shopping chore, end up giving the thieves more than $40,000?

According to the sheriff’s report:

• The man distracted the victim by asking if he could sit in her car, because it was hot outside.
• Meanwhile, the woman said she worked in a local bank and had found a purse in the parking lot, and that she and the man needed cash against which to compare the serial numbers printed on the cash supposedly found inside that purse.
• At one point the man and woman motioned or signaled to someone in a nearby vehicle.
• The elderly woman at a nearby Amscot cashed a check for $40,000 and gave it to the man and woman.

Surveillance video of the thieves approaching and engaging with the elderly woman in the Walmart parking lot has been posted on YouTube. (That video is posted here as well.)

To further aid detectives in solving the case, the thieves are described as:

• Female, black, heavyset, walking with a limp and wearing dark clothing and carrying a bag.
• Male, heavyset and bald, wearing a white dress shirt, tie and dress pants.

The vehicle believed to be involved in the crime is described as a four-door, SUV, possibly a Mitsubishi, with tinted windows and a roof rack and taillights connected to the rear-hatch window.

Anyone with information is asked to call the sheriff’s office, at 813-247-8200, or, to call CrimeStoppers, at 1-800-873-TIPS.