The Palm Beach Sheriff's Office is looking for a man in his 20s who allegedly knocked on the door of a woman's apartment, claiming to be a plumber. The man allegedly stated that he needed to check her pipes on behalf of the apartment complex's property manager.
When inside of the apartment, the man allegedly sprayed what he had claimed was acid on her hands. When the woman took off a ring when washing her hands, the man allegedly took it.
This person, if found and arrested, could face charges of burglary of an occupied dwelling and grand theft.
The charge is still burglary even though the alleged victim permitted the man to enter. That's because, if proven, police and prosecutors will allege that the man entered the apartment under false pretenses, and while inside committed the crime of theft.
Burglary carries a maximum of 15 years in prison. Grand theft carries anywhere from 5 to 30 years, depending on the value of the item or items taken.
Eric Matheny is a burglary attorney serving Miami-Dade and Broward.