MIAMI – A 27-year-old woman is accused of scamming elderly residents out of thousands of dollars in jewelry by posing as a buyer and offering to clean their valuables, Miami police confirmed in an arrest report Monday.
Detectives with the Miami Police Department’s Burglary Unit said they arrested Katherine Coromoto Angulo Rivera on Friday, accusing her of targeting senior citizens in the Flagami neighborhood through a well-planned theft scheme that used “deceptive tactics to steal valuables worth tens of thousands of dollars from on suspecting victims.”
In one case, police said Angulo Rivera, of Kissimmee, approached a victim near the 5000 block of Northwest Second Street, offering to buy spare picture frames.
They said she was allowed inside the home, where she claimed she could also clean jewelry.
The victim, trusting her, handed over about $48,500 worth of jewelry, the report stated.
“She said, ‘Can you give me a little water?’ So I said yes,” said Nelsa Silvera, who let the Angulo Rivera into her home.
Police said the woman began talking about jewelry and claimed she could clean the valuables.
Police said Angulo Rivera then placed the items in a container, poured a blue liquid over them, and covered it with a napkin — telling the victim to wait an hour before checking. By the time the victim lifted the napkin, the jewelry and Angulo Rivera were both gone, according to investigators.
“I don’t have the words to express myself,” said Ramona Sanchez, who also lives in the home. She explained that some of the stolen items were sentimental pieces she had owned for decades.
A second victim in the 5800 block of Southwest Second Terrace told police they were approached with an offer to buy copper, according to the report.
Angulo Rivera once again suggested cleaning their jewelry and used the same method to steal it, investigators said.
Police believe Angulo Rivera took advantage of her victims’ trust by using offers that seemed legitimate to distract them while stealing their valuables.
Officers estimate the total loss from that case to be about $50,000. Police said that victim has not recovered any of her belongings.
Investigators were able to track her down after reviewing victim interviews, canvassing the neighborhood, analyzing surveillance footage and conducting a traffic stop near Biscayne Boulevard and Northeast 38th Street.
Jail records show Angulo Rivera is facing two counts each of third-degree grand theft, burglary, running an organized scheme to defraud, and conducting a business without a license or county ordinance. Detectives also confirmed that more charges may follow.
“This suspect preyed on the kindness and vulnerability of our elderly residents with a calculated and heartless scheme,” Miami Police Chief Manny Morales said. “I am proud of the patrol officers and detectives that found her, and we encourage anyone who may have encountered her to come forward.”
Angulo Rivera appeared in court over the weekend, occasionally shaking her head as the judge read charges including grand theft in the third degree and use of fraudulent credit cards.
The investigation is still active, and detectives said they are working to determine if there are other victims or if Angulo Rivera had any accomplices.
Angulo Rivera was not listed as an inmate on Miami-Dade’s jail website as of Monday evening. Her bond information also wasn’t immediately available.
Anyone with information or who believes they were targeted is urged to call the Miami Police Department’s Burglary Unit at 305-603-6055 or Crime Stoppers at 305-471-8477.
Tips can also be submitted anonymously online at www.crimestoppersmiami.com or by texting 274637 with the code CSMD followed by the information.
