Article Courtesy of Local 12
News -- CBS Palm Beach
By Gary Detman
Published May 17, 2020
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GREENACRES — A squeaky voice proved to be a clue in the arrest of a maintenance
worker who investigators say posed as a Homeowner's Association (HOA)
representative to steal pain medication and jewelry from an elderly woman in
Greenacres.
The Palm Beach County
Sheriff's Office arrested 37-year-old Andres Briceno on
charges of exploitation of the elderly, burglary and grand
theft.
A woman and her 74-year-old mother called the sheriff's
office to report a burglary. The woman told investigators
her mom let a man who claimed to be with the HOA into her
home to check for leaks. She later believed it to be a hoax.
Deputies ask the two to look for any missing items. The
woman said a jewelry box that she left at her mother's house
was missing, along with her mother's medication.
According to the arrest report, the 74-year-old woman who is
in the early stages of dementia told detectives the man had
a high pitched and squeaky voice. The woman said she
remembered that because the intruder told her that he thinks
his own grandmother thinks he's gay because of his voice.
But he told her that he loves women. The man went around the
woman's home and came back to her room with her daughter's
jewelry box. He said he needed to move it because it was
going to get wet where it was.
Deputies reviewed surveillance video of the man. He wore
black glasses, a COVID-19 face mask, gloves, an orange
shirt, blue jeans and black shoes. After sharing images of
the man with the public, deputies received a tip that he did
maintenance for the Pine Ridge North 2 Homeowner's
Association. The tip led investigators to a former roommate
who also mentioned the suspect's squeaky voice. |
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Andres Briceno is accused of posing as an HOA worker
to steal jewelry and pain medication from an elderly woman in
Greenacres.
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Detectives showed Briceno the video of the burglary. According to the
report, he denied being there or having any involvement.
Briceno is due back in court next month.
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