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Suspect accused of bilking senior citizen nabbed


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Suspect accused of bilking senior citizen nabbed | CRIME

Don C. Collins
A smooth-talking con artist who bilked an 88-year-old Murfreesboro woman out of $4,000 and left her weeping in a bank parking lot March 9 was captured Wednesday in Illinois.

Media exposure and witnesses last week led sheriff’s Detective Steve Kohler to the identity of the suspect, Don Collins, 32, of 475 Taurus Farm Roads in Lafayette, reported sheriff’s spokesman Sgt. Dan Goodwin.

Sheriff’s deputy Brad Lynn reported the 88-year-old Rutherford County woman lost $4,000 to a man who took her to her bank, withdrew the cash and abandoned her March 9.

The man who identified himself as Don Collins gave her a sad story and seemed nice to her, Lynn reported. He offered to do work in the woman’s yard for $4,000.

“Don did a little work, then asked if they could go to the bank and get some money,” Lynn reported.

She rode in a black truck with Don and his brother to the Bank of America on Memorial Boulevard to get the money. She had two checks she wrote to Don Collins but the bank refused and gave them back.

The woman doesn’t know how it happened but Collins received $4,000 in $20 bills, the deputy reported. After he received the money, he left her at the bank without a ride. Another customer at the bank gave her a ride home where she called the sheriff’s office.

Collins had already fled Tennessee, but the truck used in the scam was at the Lafayette home and Kohler seized it for its use in a felony, Goodwin said.

A nationwide be on the lookout alert was broadcast for Collins, and yesterday police in Woodford, Ill., caught him as he left a location they had under surveillance.

Collins produced a fake Kentucky identification card and lied about his name and he now faces charges for that in Illinois.

A hold for felony theft $1,000-$10,000, was placed on Collins. He also faces felony charges from the state of Alabama.

At this time of year hordes of “Irish Travelers” “English Travelers” or “Gypsies” bilk older Americans out of untold amounts of money in schemes like this.

Elderly victims are usually too embarrassed to tell relatives, let alone authorities when this occurred.

“We urge people to inform and warn their elderly relatives and friends about door-to-door home repairs by scam artists,” Goodwin said.


 
 
 
Tagged under  CRIME


Member Opinions:
By: candvlawn on 3/19/09
The lady that was scammed had a birthday between the first and third paragraph, cool, I am so glad they caught that thug, the woman’s money is most likely gone but she got the dude in the end. His jail time should include doing the work at that woman’s house plus jail time.

By: RonB on 3/19/09
I've had several people stop by and offer to paint my barn roof. Gee, do you think they would accept cash? I guess next time I'll try to get a picture of their tag and call the law.

By: Dave42 on 3/19/09
They have his truck, sell it and give the woman the money. Betcha that if they search his home they will find some of his illgotten gains there.

By: lightchick on 3/20/09
A woman approached my elderly mother this week at Panera Bread with a sob story. We are lucky that Mom had her wits about her at that moment and sent the scammer on her way.

By: devolver on 3/20/09
As the city and county grows, so will the number of hustlers.

Just tell them to take a hike. If no one is biting their bait, they'll likely move along.

By: lupusman on 3/20/09
I have been following this story from the start. I would still like to understand if the bank did not cash the checks, how did Collins get his hands on the $ 4,000??? Wonder if anyone at Bank of America can answer that!

By: fraco88 on 3/20/09
Yesterday my son was here at my house while I was running some errands. A truck pulled into the driveway and one of the men got out. He wanted to re-seal my driveway. My son told him that he would have to talk to me and if he had a business card he would give it to me. He didn't have any cards, flyers, or even signs on his truck. He said his cards were in his other truck. My son told him if he brought a card by and put it in the mailbox I might call him. I doubt if I ever hear from him again. When I get ready to get my driveway re-sealed I will call a company that I know is reputable, not some men who pull up in my driveway that I know nothing about. We can't be too careful these days.

By: barrettbear on 3/23/09
I would have politely told this dude,"No, my driveway does not need to be resealed at this time, however, the two barrels on the front of my shotgun does."


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