HOUSTON – A mother of two says her family heirlooms, passports, kids’ birth certificates, and other valuables were stolen while at home.
The woman told KPRC 2′s Rilwan Balogun that they let a man into the home who said he was there to trim the trees in the backyard.
What they didn’t realize is -- he wasn’t alone. He had a partner come in and steal thousands of dollars worth of jewelry and family belongings.
“It’s so sickening. It’s devastating. It’s violating,” said homeowner Keli Rabon. “I had so many special things that they’re of no value to these fools but they meant so much to me.”
Rabon was upset thinking about how two men ransacked her home -- by suggesting they were there to help.
“A guy said that he was here to trim some trees on a neighbor’s property,” Rabon said. “He said it was encroaching my side of the property line and that he was going to take it out, but he needed to get exact measurements and he was going to use a drone to do that.”
Surveillance video showed the guy knocking on the door, and Rabon permitted him to enter. She, her nanny, and the boys follow the man to the backyard.
Moments later, he rushes out, hunching over like ‘The Grinch’, with stolen valuables.
“Maybe five minutes past or seven minutes of me standing outside. Heard a loud thud which I could tell distinctly was the front door slamming. And looked, ‘That’s weird.’ He said ‘Okay, gotta go.’ Then he ran out the door.”
Video showed the suspected guy who supposedly was helping trim trees, also ran off.
“They had this down. They fooled me and I figured myself to be pretty savvy, but it goes to show it happens when you least expect it. It happens so fast. It can happen in broad daylight and in your own home,” Rabon said.
Officers with the Houston Police Department are investigating.
