Police warn of thieves targeting residents in 6 Merrimack Valley communities

Several Massachusetts communities in the Merrimack Valley are have issued crime alerts amid multiple jewelry thefts last week.

Lowell, Tyngsborough, Chelmsford, Dracut, Billerica, and Tewksbury want residents to know that two individuals have been robbing unsuspecting victims, often the elderly, of their jewelry.

According to police, these individuals, a man and a woman travel together, call victims over to their vehicle to speak, and offer to place fake jewelry on the victims.

While placing the fake jewelry, they will attempt to steal the jewelry belonging to and worn by the victims, sometimes in a violent nature, and then drive away, police say.

“Do not approach them or their vehicle and do not engage in conversation with them, even if they seem friendly. If you are walking alone in these communities, especially if you are elderly, try to keep your jewelry hidden,” police say.

It is a topic of frequent discussion at the Billerica Senior Center: Older adults getting scammed.

“Scams are here to stay,” said Jean Bushnell, Senior Center Director.

Just last week, a 77-year-old Tyngsboro woman lost a gold necklace of great sentimental (not to mention monetary) value to a man and a woman in a black SUV. The necklace’s locket contained the last remaining photograph of her late mother and father in Cambodia.

“It concerns me because I think the fact that they said ladies are involved,” said Jeanne Teehan, LSW, a social worker at the Billerica Senior Center. “I think sometimes your guard goes down when it’s a woman.”

“You have to keep up on all the different scams that are going around and be educated about it,” said Betty Murin, a senior who almost got ripped off by credit card scammers. “I think they think they can just get us anytime they want to. But I think today you’ll find a lot of the seniors are a lot smarter than people think they are.”

Still, it isn’t always a matter of intellect.

“We deal with a lot of people that are completely homebound, completely isolated, and really don’t talk to somebody on a daily basis,” said Teehan. “I think sometimes they almost become friends with the scammer that’s calling them.”

And, Bushnell said, seniors are often ashamed they fell for a scam — discounting the clever tactics of the scammer.

Marilyn Patterson was expecting a package to arrive from the US Postal Service when she got a text message: “The package has arrived at the warehouse but cannot be delivered.”

“It said, put your name and address, and then it said you have to pay now to have it redelivered,” said Patterson. “USPS, I figured it was legitimate. So I put my American Express card in.”

Fortunately, American Express realized the transaction was fraudulent and refused to pay it. Marilyn’s package arrived later that day — with no extra charges due.

Adding to their vulnerability is the propensity of older adults to be trusting.

“They grew up at a time when you were very neighborly, you were very friendly,” said Bushnell. “And so all of a sudden now you have to be so suspicious.”

Yes, unfortunately, you do.

If you are approached by someone suspicious or believe you see the suspects in the area, police ask that you call your local police department.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

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