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Man charged with felony theft for breaking into good Samaritan's home. Date published: 10/9/2009
BY PORTSIA SMITH Vinita Lemmon thought she was being a good Samaritan, but she ended up becoming a victim. The 66-year-old woman was pumping gas at the Flying J in Caroline County two weeks ago when she heard a man nearby arguing on the phone. "What do you want me to do? I don't have any money," she heard him say. The man told the person on the phone he could try to sell his GPS unit to raise some cash. Knowing what it's like to be down on your luck, Lemmon walked up to the man and offered to buy him a tank of gas. She said after expressing his appreciation, he told her he'd left his wallet in Roanoke where he had been doing some landscaping work and he didn't have enough money to get home. She told him she could give him half of the $110 she had in her pocket, but he said he needed all of it so he could get a hotel room. In exchange, he gave her his GPS and offered to do some landscaping work for her. She agreed and he gave her his name and phone number. "Alarms started going off in my head when I saw that the number had a Fredericksburg prefix," Lemmon said. "Then I thought, maybe he really needs some help." The next day, Lemmon received a call from the man asking if she would be home so he could look at her yard. She told him she had to step out for a few hours but would be back after 5 p.m. He said he would call back another day. When Lemmon and her husband returned to their home in Woodford, she found it odd that her dog met her at the car, because he stays inside. Her back door was also open. She figured her grandchildren might have left it open and didn't think much more about it until two days later, when her husband noticed a dresser drawer missing in their bedroom. "Every piece of jewelry I've had for 30 years or more is gone," Lemmon said. "Gold chains, diamond rings, a very old wedding band passed down the family--all gone."
I no longer help people out. I feel bad people are down on their luck, but I need every cent I have.
that the good samaratin was robbed; I'm sure she meant well, and feel sorry for her. However she lacks common sense, and her alarm bells should have been going off from the get go!
Should be tattooed across his forehead. And hack off his hands while we're at it.
can actually get you killed--this lady is lucky that the deviant scumbag was ONLY a robber. Why would you give a stranger all your cash and access to where you live? SO dangerous. I'm happy she wasn't harmed. The dog is very lucky too-poor thing.
I went to school with this guy and I am NOT surprised at all. He was a trouble maker then and I see he's only gotten worse. I'm so sorry for this woman. It's terrible that someone like this makes people uneasy about helping those truly in need.
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