More victims come forward in chimney scam case on Long Island

RIVERHEAD, N.Y. (WABC) -- Prosecutors now say four people were victimized in a chimney scam targeting elderly victims on Long Island.

Police say the suspects posed as chimney inspectors, and burglarized the homes of a 92-year old Bellport woman and a 72-year old resident of Huntington.

In the Bellport case, the men reportedly identified themselves as employees of a company called New York Finest Home Improvements and said they were performing a chimney inspection.

While one of the men distracted the woman, named Violet, prosecutors say the other stole $130 cash from church envelopes and $35 cash from bank envelopes.

They also purportedly stole a quantity of the victim's prescription drugs.

The men quoted a price of $3,000 for unnecessary chimney work and offered to drive the victim to her bank to withdraw the money. She declined, and the suspects made arrangements to do the work on a later date.

After the individuals left, Violet became suspicious and contacted police, prosecutors say.

Because she spoke out, other elderly homeowners have now come forward.

In the Huntington case, they are accused of stealing jewelry from the victim's bedroom.

The woman's niece, Karlyne Blaine, who lives with her 77-year old aunt and was home when it happened, said she realized it was a similar scam after reading the story about the Bellport burglary at 7online.

"They made an appointment to come and clean the chimney, they showed up, my aunt was uncomfortable," said Blaine.

The suspects, 32-year-old Bruce Wimmer of Bohemia and 28-year-old Michael Windland of Lake Ronkonkoma, are facing burglary as a hate crime, while Windland is also facing a count of criminal possession of a controlled substance.

Authorities say they bought marketing lists of elderly people.

"They would particularly select people over the age of 70 years and had lived in their homes for substantial periods of time," said Suffolk County District Attorney Thomas Spota.