Conwoman Posed As Utility Worker To Rob Elderly Widow Of $25,000 In Jewelry

Police have arrested a woman on Thursday after she allegedly connived with a man to steal thousands of dollars in jewelry from an elderly Miramar widow's home.

The suspect, Rachael Demitro, 49, has been charged with burglary, grand theft from a person 65 years old or older, and violation of probation, after she posed as a Florida Power and Light utility worker with an unidentified man to gain entry to the home of 81-year-old Diane Reeves, WSVN reported.

One of them allegedly distracted Reeves and lured the victim to her backyard as the other offender fished out valuable items inside the home, ultimately fleeing with more than $25,000 worth of jewelry.

Miramar police said that the June 25 scam was partially captured by a doorbell camera video, positively identifying Demitro as one of the suspects, CBS Miami noted.

Some of the looted items included a charm bracelet from 1961 given to Reeves by her mother and a pocket watch she gifted to her late husband.

“It’s so many sentimental things over the years,” the victim Reeves said. “My wedding ring, my engagement ring, pieces of jewelry my mother had given to me, a piece of jewelry I bought for my husband. All of these things are so irreplaceable.”

On July 15, Broward County police announced the arrest of Demitro and accomplice Bob Ely, 58, both of Oakland Park, for a similar modus. Authorities moved to charge the suspects with burglary of cash and jewelry from an elderly couple in Margate.

Police alleged that Demitro lured a male homeowner outside his home, claiming she had to inspect his backyard for future yard work being planned by a neighbor, according to the New York Post.

In a statement, Broward County authorities noted that the victim had been trying to go back inside his home because it was hot outside. Demitro reportedly insisted on maintaining the conversation outside the home as her accomplice made his way to burglarize the property.

The duo was nabbed by the police as detectives recovered all of the victim’s jewelry. Arresting officers claimed that some of the stolen valuables adorned Demitro's neck and wrists at the time.

Demitro and Ely are held on their respective $22,000 and $35,000 bonds at a Broward County jail on Monday for the July burglary, online jail records show. It remains unclear if a legal representative has been hired to speak on their behalf.

While Ely remains a suspect in the earlier June 25 theft, he had not yet been formally charged with the offense. However, Miramar police spokeswoman Tania Rues said that the force strongly believes Ely is the same person who knocked on the elderly victim Reeves’ door last month.