Impostors Sought in Robberies of Elderly

A group of men linked to organized crime has been posing as police officers and city employees to gain entry into homes and rob elderly Ventura residents, authorities said Friday.

Investigators believe the robberies--two so far this month--are being executed by members of organized crime families from the Baltic states. They also believe the robbers are part of a nationwide racket, which is targeting seniors.

“They are preying specifically upon the elderly, so we want not only the senior citizens in the community but those people who are related to the seniors to be aware of this and educate these folks about the dangers,” Ventura Police Sgt. Jerry Thurston said.

In the latest case, two men posing as police officers, one of whom displayed a silver badge, knocked on the door of a west Ventura house and told the 67-year-old resident they had a search warrant. The man allowed the suspects to come inside, where they stole $100 and fled.

The suspects are in their 30s, about 5 feet, 8 inches tall with dark complexions, police said. On Sept. 11, four men from the same crime group were arrested in Ventura after reportedly stealing more than $1,000 from a couple, ages 87 and 85, police said.

The group posed as city public works employees who asked to use electricity for a tree-trimming project on property next to the couple’s house on Madera Avenue, officers said.

Residents should ask for identification from any unknown person who wants to enter their home, Thurston said.

Anyone with information on these cases or others is urged to call police at 339-4474.