Police impersonators swindle elderly woman

8/13/2004

Two people impersonating police officers took at least $150 from an elderly South Toledo woman in one of two cases reported Wednesday that could be related.

One suspect, a black female in her 30s, showed the Garden Ridge Drive woman a picture ID and told her she was an officer. She and the other suspect, a black male in his 50s who said he was a detective, made their way inside the woman's home and led her to believe a bank robber had entered the home and left money.

The suspects told the victim she wasn't cooperating and that they were going to take her downtown. They wanted to know if she had money, and she opened her purse and wallet and showed them what she had.

They then went through her belongings and took the cash before fleeing, police said.

Two weeks ago, two people with similar descriptions tried to enter a couple's residence in West Toledo after they showed what appeared to be police badges and a flyer with a picture of a man on it.

The pair fled in a dark-colored vehicle after they weren't allowed inside the residence.