Two New York scammers were apprehended after approaching an 85-year-old Villager at Publix.
The Village of Hillsborough resident went to the Publix at Grand Traverse Plaza on Monday and was accosted in the parking lot by 35-year-old Miller Mitchell of New York, according to a Wildwood Police Department arrest report.
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Miller noticed a dent in the Villager’s automobile and offered to fix it for $200. The villager thought it was “a good deal” and went into the store to shop. When the villager completed shopping and returned to his car, Mitchell informed him that the job had cost $5,700.
The villager stated that he would have to return home to obtain the money and was followed by Miller, who drove in a black SUV with 34-year-old Evana Cole from New York. When they arrived at the villager’s home, he informed Miller and Cole that he needed to go to the bank to get the cash. They followed him to the bank, where he handed over an envelope containing $5,700 in cash. Mitchell informed the Villager that they needed an additional $1,092 for the project but agreed to accept a check. The villager wrote a check to Cole.
The villager eventually contacted police to report the incident. Officers instructed the villager to contact 911 if the couple returned. The next day, they returned to his home. The villager notified the police, and Mitchell and Cole were detained on felony theft charges. They were both booked into the Sumter County Detention Center. The bond for each was set at $5,000.
