The Genesee County Sheriff’s Office is investigating several “distraction” residential burglaries that occurred within minutes of each other about 3:15p.m. on June 2, 2018 in the towns of Pembroke and Batavia.
The first incident occurred on Batavia Elba Townline road in the Town of Batavia. An elderly resident was approached by a man operating a white colored SUV, possibly a Kia, who said he was checking the phone lines and asked to see where the lines were buried in the backyard.
As the man and the elderly man walked out to the backyard, another person entered the residence and removed cash and jewelry.
The crime was interrupted by a relative and the suspects then fled in a white colored SUV in the driveway and left in a westerly direction.
The Kia did not have a front license plate and the rear hatch was open so a rear plate was not visible. The only description provided was two Hispanic males who were about 30-40 years old, one of whom was wearing a baseball cap. The third person was described as a black male about 30-40 years old.
The second incident involved a residence on Indian Falls road in the Town of Pembroke.
A light brown skinned male in his late 20s or 30s knocked on the front door and asked to be shown some trees in the back yard that needed to be cut down. Although suspicious of the man’s story, the resident walked into the backyard with the man while the second person, described as similar to the first male, knocked on the front door which was answered by another resident. During the conversation, the resident saw a third person, described as a light skinned brown male, similar age as the others, exit a side door of the residence.
All three then got into a white colored SUV having no front license plate. They left in a westerly direction.
A check of the residence revealed that nothing appeared to have been taken.
In both cases, the man in the back yard had either a telephone or a two way radio which is typical of this type of crime. This is referred to as “Gypsy activity” where elderly residents are usually targeted.
The Sheriff’s Office is working with a national organization comprised of law enforcement members that monitor and track this type of activity.
It is likely that other residents were similarly approached on June 2nd(Saturday). If anyone was approached, the Sheriff’s Office is asking residents to call the Sheriff’s Office with any additional information that could possibly assist them in the investigation.
The number to call is 585-343-5000.