A trio of thieves scammed their way into an elderly Queens couple's home, claiming they were from the hospital where their special-needs daughter had previously been treated, and got away with jewelry and credit cards, the victims say.
Lillian Dehler, 88, said the three suspects took advantage of her 91-year-old husband's Alzheimer's to get into their Woodside home. A man and two women claimed to be from Long Island Jewish Hospital, and they told the couple they were there to check on the couple's daughter Margie, who had previously been treated at the hospital.
"I said, 'Whatever you need to know, they have in the computer. I don't have to tell you,'" said Dehler.
Her daughter even recognized the man, she said.
"Without a doubt, as soon as he walked in, she says, 'John!'" said Dehler. "I said, 'Where you know him from?' She says, 'From the hospital.'"
But while the family was distracted, the thieves stole Lillian's wallet, and one of the suspects slipped upstairs and raided her jewelry box, which contained her engagement ring and her 50th anniversary diamond band.
"I screamed down, I said, 'We've all been robbed,'" Dehler said, recalling how she realized they'd been tricked.
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Police released surveillance video of two of the women they want to question. The pair tried to use the couple's stolen credit card at a Rego Park Payless shoe store, according to police.
The man who claimed to be John was captured on video at an Outback steakhouse where the couple's credit card was also used.
"They are very wicked people, to do that to people," said Dehler. "I have nothing left."
Dehler said police told her they are checking with the hospital to see if the suspect does work there. In the meantime, anyone with information is asked to contact Crime Stoppers at 800-577-TIPS.
