Law Enforcement officials in Orange County are warning people of an elaborate robbery scheme designed to targeting the elderly.

  • Thieves posing as county, city workers targeting elderly
  • One gets the victim to allow them in the backyard, the other robs the house
  • 10 homes across Orange County have been targeted
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At least 10 different homes have already been targeted. The Orange County Sheriff's Office is using the Next Door Application to warn people throughout the county about the scam.

According to investigators, one man, described as being in his early 20s or 30s with dark hair and dark eyes, has walked up to homes during the week and told homeowners they are with the city or county and are there to do some sort of lawn work. Witnesses say the suspect then asks the homeowners to follow them to the backyard.

While there, another unknown suspect goes into the home and grabs whatever they can steal in a short period of time.

Cenobia Tyler, 86, of Apopka was one of those robbery victims.

"When they rang the doorbell, I came to the door and I said 'Yes?' Then he says 'I'm with the county'," Tyler said Tuesday as she recalled the April 1 robbery of her home.

According to Tyler, the robbers stole some cash and all of her jewlery in the few minutes she was outside with the first man.

"To have someone just to take advantage of me and think that I'm just some old lady with some jewelry they could take, it upset me," Tyler said.

Investigators believe the suspects are targeting the elderly and have asked for anyone with more information on these crimes to please contact the sheriff's office immediately at 407-836-4357 or your local police department. A reward of up to $1,000 is also being offered for information leading to an arrest of the people involved in the scam.

The sheriff's office says to ask for ID when approached by a city or county employee about yard work. 

  • The map below shows the general areas where the suspects posing as county or city workers in Orange County have struck. We have not used specific addresses to protect victims.