Two New York scammers were nabbed after approaching an 85-year-old Villager at Publix.
The Village of Hillsborough resident on Monday had gone to the Publix at Grand Traverse Plaza where he was approached in the parking lot by 35-year-old Miller Mitchell of New York, according to an arrest report from the Wildwood Police Department.
Miller noticed a dent in the Villager’s car and said he could fix it for $200. The Villager believed it was “a good deal” and went into the store to shop. When the Villager finished shopping and returned to his car, Mitchell informed him the job had cost $5,700.
The Villager said he would have to go home to get the money, and was followed by Miller, who traveled in a black SUV with 34-year-old Evana Cole, also of New York. Once they reached the Villager’s residence, he informed Miller and Cole that he would need to go to the bank to obtain the cash. The followed him to the bank and he turned over an envelope containing $5,700 in cash. Mitchell told the Villager they needed an additional $1,092 for the job, but agreed to take a check. The Villager wrote out a check to Cole.
The Villager ultimately called police to report the incident. Officers told the Villager to call 911 if the couple returned. The next day they showed up at his home again. The Villager called police and Mitchell and Cole were arrested on felony charges of theft. They were both booked at the Sumter County Detention Center. Bond for each was set at $5,000.