Don't Open Doors To Strangers, Elderly In Landis Warned

BY MATTHEW WINTER
SALISBURY POST

LANDIS - Police are warning elderly folks in town to be cautious when playing the role of Good Samaritan this holiday season.

Landis police on Monday arrested a man and a woman suspected of robbing an elderly couple living on North Beaver Street.

About 11:25 p.m. Friday, a man knocked on the door of the couple's home. When the wife answered the door, he waived and acted as if he were a friend, Landis Chief H.F. Jones said. When the woman started to open the door, the burglar pushed his way into the home. The woman tried to push him back outside, but the man threatened to kill her if she touched him again, Jones said.

The man pushed by the woman and made his way toward the couple's bedroom. He ran into the husband as he was coming down the hall to investigate the commotion, Jones said.

The burglar knocked the man down and stole a wallet from the couple's bedroom. The burglar knocked the man down again on his way out, and after ripping the couple's phone from the wall, escaped with $9 in cash and some credit cards, Jones said.

The couple called police from their cellular phone.

Police on Monday night arrested 25-year-old Ronda Ray Thompson Jr., of 320 Sunfish Terrace, Salisbury, and charged him with first-degree burglary, Jones said.

Police also arrested Tami Sue Fisher, 31, of 330 Fisherman's Lane, Salisbury, and charged her with 1st-degree burglary and aiding and abetting a felon, he said.

Fisher apparently rents a home from the victims, drove Thompson to the couple's home in Landis and waited for him while he robbed them.

Thompson remained in the Rowan County Detention Center Tuesday under a $5,500 bond. Fisher remained in jail Tuesday under a $2,500 bond.

Police are looking for a third suspect in the case.

In an unrelated incident, an out-of-town woman has been approaching elderly residents in their homes asking to borrow money.

The woman apparently has duped a number of elderly residents into handing over $5 or $10 each to help her buy some gasoline or meet some other minor emergency. The woman falsely claims that she works at Johnson's Superette, a well-known supermarket on Main Street where many elderly Landis residents have shopped for years, Jones said.

"She'll go up and knock on their door and act like they should know her from the store," Jones said.

"She'll hug their necks like she's known them all the time.

"I guess they give her money because they've been going to Johnson's for so many years, and they figure that even if they couldn't get it back from her the store would somehow make it right."

Jones said officers believe they know who the woman is, but he wouldn't release a name. He described her as white, about 5-foot-5, in her late 20s or early 30s, with brown hair cut above her shoulders. The woman apparently drives a small brown pickup truck and has relatives in town.

The chief said today investigators have identified the woman but are waiting to find out more about her activities before deciding whether to pursue charges.

"It's really a shame she's taking advantage of the store's good name," Jones added.