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Robbers prey on elderly Danville woman

June 23, 2009|DAVID BROCK

Police say three men used a phony furniture business to enter a Danville woman's house and make off with cash and a firearm Monday afternoon.

Vernocia Neal, 92, told police that three unknown white males came to her home at 214 Stanford Road about 4 p.m. and asked to come in to show her a rug and tell her about a new furniture store they were opening near Walmart.

"They came to the door and said they were organizing a store," Neal said. "I was busy with something else when they came to the door, so it took me by surprise."

Neal said two of the men distracted her and shielded her vision from a third man who was not present when the other two entered the home. Neal said the third man went into her bedroom and took an undetermined amount of money and a firearm.

"They took everything they could get their hands on," Neal said.

Neal said she did not know exactly how long the men were in her home but that they left abruptly.

Police Chief Jay Newell said similar schemes, such as bogus blacktopping and yard work offers, are seasonal and prey on the elderly.

"They could have talked to her about anything," Newell said. "The idea is always the same. They tend to focus on elderly people because they think it is less likely they will contact the police or get into an argument."

Newell urges residents to be cautious about letting anyone they don't know inside their home unless they already have contracted with them or made arrangements for them to provide a service. Newell also said people should not allow strangers to enter their home to use the telephone.

Neal said one of the men was heavy set and wearing khaki pants and a white shirt. The second suspect was described as wearing gray pants, a gray shirt and a khaki or green baseball hat. Neal said the third man had on dark pants.

The suspects left in what was described as a black Ford Crown Victoria with a large amount of trash on the dashboard. Anyone with information about the robbery is asked to contact Danville Police Department at (859) 238-1220.

The local Elder Abuse Council is taking donations for Neal. Donations can be dropped off at Danville Fire Department, Boyle County Sheriff's Department or the customer service desk at Kroger. At the fire department, ask for Robin Rodgers.

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