A 38-year-old man is in police custody after “sweet talking” a local senior out of her computer.
Nanaimo RCMP say it happened Sunday, December 9, when the man came to 74 year-old’s house to ask about a sign in her window advertising a room to rent. After inviting him in, he convinced the woman that her laptop had issues and needed a program installed. He left with it a few minutes later, without permission. The woman later realized her camera was also missing. Police were called and quickly identified the man thanks to a bag he had left behind.
The man, who RCMP say has had several run-ins with police since 2005, was arrested December 14th at a home on Harewood Rd. The camera and laptop have not recovered.
“This was simply a case of someone taking advantage of kind, caring and sweet individual,” says Constable Gary O’Brien of the Nanaimo RCMP. “Even though (the victim) was conned, she certainly has not lost her sense of humanity. She really wants her message to be for everyone to continue reaching out to strangers and not become callous or intimidated as the result of an isolated incident.”
