INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — A woman who broke into an elderly man’s home and a man who tried to use fake credit cards at Target were nabbed in two separate investigations, the Indian River County Sheriff’s Office announced Thursday.
On Dec. 21, an 87-year-old man reported being awoken in the middle of the night to find a woman in his home in the 400 block of 9th Place in Vero Beach, according to a press release.
The man said that he asked the woman what she was doing there and she responded by asking him the same question. He said the woman attempted to flee but he grabbed her by the shirt before she began to punch and kick him.
He described the woman to the responding deputies. Crime scene detectives recovered a fingerprint on a window screen that was removed to enter the home, according to authorities.
The victim told investigators that a blank checkbook and money were missing from his home.
Det. Greg Farless began canvassing the neighborhood and eventually identified a potential suspect matching the description given by the victim, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
Victoria Beuttell, 31, of Vero Beach, lives two houses away from the victim and has a history of drug abuse, authorities said.
Det. Farless was able to match the print from the window to Buettell. She was arrested and charged with burglary of an occupied dwelling and battery on an elderly person.
Wednesday night, Target Loss Prevention contacted Det. Ismael Hau regarding a man, later identified as Joe Legette, 43, of New York, trying to use a fraudulent credit card to make a purchase, according to authorities.
Legette fled the store when approached by management, according to the Sheriff’s Office. Sheriff’s Deputies were able to stop him in his vehicle not far from the store.
Det. Hau responded and located seven fraudulent credit cards in Legette’s possession. Detective Hau arrested Legette and charged him with fraudulent use of a credit card.
“These cases show how desperate criminals get during the holidays,” said Indian River County Sheriff Deryl Loar. “Our detectives and deputies did an outstanding job taking these criminals off the streets. We will continue to be vigilant for the citizens of Indian River County in 2016.”
Buettell is being held at the Indian River County Jail with no bond. Legette is being held in lieu of a $100,000 bond.