The crime, which Officer W.H. Wheeler responded to around 2 p.m., began in Roanoke Rapids when the victim was initially approached at Belk and the first suspect, who was wearing a fanny pack, struck up a conversation on the location of African-American churches in the area, Deputy Chief James Avens said.
During the encounter, the man wearing the fanny pack called another man he described as his attorney. The victim drove the first suspect to McDonalds where they met the second suspect. “The conversation changes to they (the suspects) want to bless the victim with $42,000,” Avens said.
From there the victim drove the suspects to PNC Bank and the man wearing the fanny pack went to the bank. Afterward they convinced the victim in order to bless them with the money the victim had to show there was a safe place to keep the money at their residence, Avens said.
From there the victim drove the suspects to their house in Weldon and brought them inside. One of the suspects distracted the victim with conversation while the other went back to the private location where the victim was going to store the $42,000, which ended up being wadded newspapers put in a doo-rag, Avens said.
The suspect who went to the private location stole the victim’s valuables as the victim was being distracted.
Avens said the victim, who afterward drove the suspects to the Texaco convenience store near Interstate 95, was initially unaware his valuables were stolen. The victim dropped the men off at the station where they left the victim with the doo-rag containing the newspapers.
It was unclear where the suspects went after they were dropped off and whether they were local, Avens said, those two particulars still being a matter of investigation.
Avens described both suspects as older men. “They don’t look like young men. The bigger guy appeared to walk with difficulty.”
The victim was not injured. “We want to remind all elderly people who go out and shop they need to be aware of them. They’re going to be dressed decently. They don’t look like a threat to the elderly.”
Anyone with information is encouraged to call the police department at 252-536-3136 or Crimestoppers at 252-583-4444.