Virginia's police warn the public about the so-called "rose ruse" burglars. Authorities said that citizens of Fairfax, Virginia, should be vigilant when it comes to people pretending to sell roses.
Thieves and other criminals are getting more and more trickier as the years go by. From their traditional methods, they are now coming up with new schemes that can easily fool victims.
Now, they are using roses to fool Americans. Fairfax's law enforcement officials said that they were able to record several incidents involving the rose ruse burglars.
If you are living in this suburb of Washington, D.C., here's what you need to know about these fake rose sellers and what you can do to prevent them
Virginia Police Warns Public About Rose Ruse Burglars
According to Fox News' latest report, Fairfax's police officials are investigating five incidents linked to the Rose Ruse burglars. They said that these burglaries started happening on December 28, 2023.
Authorities explained how these thieves work. They stated that one of their members is a woman who will knock on doors and pretend to sell roses.
If they hear no response after a few minutes, they will now start breaking into the house to steal expensive belongings.
"In four of the burglaries, a woman approached the home with flowers and knocked on the door," said the Fairfax County Police Department.
"When no one answered, she returned to an awaiting vehicle. Two men then forced entry into the home and stole valuables," added the law enforcement department.
The Fairfax County Police Department said the cases they recorded involved stealing purses, cash, and jewelry. If you're worried for the safety of your house, WUSA90 provided the following areas where the rose ruse burglars did their crimes:
- December 28 - 900 block of Dominion Reserve Drive, McLean at 6 p.m.
- December 29 - 1100 block of Bishopgate Way, Reston at 6 p.m.
- January 1 - 1100 block of Windrock Drive, McLean at 2 a.m.
- January 8 - 11000 block of Lance Lane, Oakton at 5:30 p.m.
- January 9 - 11100 block of Farm Road, Great Falls sometime between 12:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.
What Americans Can Do Against Rose Ruse Burglars
Virginia's law enforcement officials urge Americans who experience suspicious activities around their areas- especially those who encounter a woman selling roses- to contact detectives at 703-556-7750.
Those who know the identity of the woman or other rose ruse burglars can tip them off anonymously through the Crime Solvers via their phone (703) 246-4676.If you haven't encountered anything suspicious but still want to ensure the safety of your home, here's what you can do:
- Use more than one lock.
- Don't put dog warning stickers so that burglars will not know you have canines.
- Always close your curtains when you're not at your house.
- Buy window locks.
Related Article: Canada: Posting Package Thefts Violate Thieves' Privacy, Warns Police-'You're Joking, Right?' Ask Residents
