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Two Men Arrested after Posing as Chimney Repairment & Burglarizing Elderly Woman’s Home

Written by Long Island News & PR  |  21. August 2014

Bellport, NY - August 21st, 2014 - Suffolk County Police today arrested two men who burglarized an elderly woman’s home last week by utilizing a home repair scam.

Bruce Wimmer and Michael Windland entered a 92-year-old female’s home in Bellport on August 16 at approximately 2 p.m. by pretending to be chimney cleaners.  The men identified themselves as employees of a company called N.Y. Finest Home Improvements and said they were performing a chimney inspection. While one of the men distracted the resident, the other stole $130 cash from church envelopes and $35 cash from bank envelopes.  They also stole a quantity of the victim’s prescription drugs.  The men quoted a price of $3000 for unnecessary chimney work and offered to drive the victim to her bank to withdraw the money. The victim declined and the suspects made arrangements to do the work on a later date. After the individuals left, the victim became suspicious and contacted police.

Michael Windland, 28, of 2nd Street, Lake Ronkonkoma was charged with Burglary 2nd Degree and Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance. Bruce Wimmer, 32, of Debbie Lee Lane, Bohemia, was charged with Burglary 2nd Degree.  Both men are prior convicted felons.

Windland and Wimmer will be held overnight at the Fifth Precinct and are scheduled to be arraigned at First District Court in Central Islip on August 21.

Fifth Squad detectives are seeking to identify any other potential victims of these individuals. If you feel you may have been a victim of this scam, you are urged to contact the Fifth Squad detectives at 631-854-8552.

A criminal charge is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

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