Florida man charged with burglarizing homes while families were at funerals
02/18/2021 4:16 pm PST
LAKE WALES, Fla. (TCD) --
A Florida man was arrested Monday, February 15, on suspicion of burglarizing homes while families attended funerals.
Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said in a news conference Wednesday that Ronald Rose, 42, allegedly targeted homes owned by people who recently died or relatives of the recently deceased.
Sheriff Judd said: "He looked at obituaries, he researched out the address and he went to their homes while they were at the funeral."
Rose was charged with two counts of armed burglary; eight counts of burglary of an unoccupied dwelling; grand theft between $20,000 and $100,000; eight counts of grand theft from a dwelling; seven counts of grand theft of a firearm; and petit theft. He allegedly took jewelry, firearms, silver, and coins.
In a news release, the Polk County Sheriff's Office said the charges relate to burglaries that occurred between October 1, 2020, and February 8, 2021. Rose allegedly targeted homes in Auburndale, Lakeland, Mulberry, and Haines City. The Sheriff's Office said that Rose confessed to one Auburndale burglary.
Deputies said while investigating a 2020 Kia Optima that had been rented by Rose, they found evidence that led to a warrant to search Rose's home. While searching the home, deputies reportedly found evidence linked to the 10 burglaries, and retrieved stolen property. They also found Rose's personal car, a gray Cadillac, that matched descriptions of other burglaries.
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