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Man accused of stealing while people attend funerals
Ken Suarez reports
LAKELAND, Fla. - Polk County detectives say a Lake Wales man burglarized the homes of mourners while they were at the funerals of their loved ones.
"There are evil people in the world. This is one of them," said Polk Sheriff Grady Judd. "His name is Ronald Rose, but he really is a thorn in people’s sides."
Detectives say Rose would scan obituaries and break into the homes of mourners while they were saying their final farewells, usually in broad daylight.
Ronald Rose, courtesy Polk County Sheriff's Office
They say he tried to cover his tracks by making the burglary seem like something else.
"Everything he did was in a very respectful manner, so it would look like some of the family who wanted something special, maybe granddad’s gun, took it before another cousin, or nephew, or niece or son, got the gun," Judd explained.
Rose is accused of 10 break-ins over the last few months, from Hernando County all the way down to Sebring.
Along with ripping off firearms, investigators say he stole jewelry, watches, coins, and silver, which are all easily fenced.
When investigators searched Rose’s home, they allegedly found what appears to be several stolen items that they could not account for, which leads them to believe that he may have burglarized other homes they are not aware of.
Anyone who believes they could be a victim or believes a home of a deceased individual was burglarized can call the Polk County Sheriff’s Office at 863-298-6200.