Saturday, February 06, 2010

Port St. Lucie Pair Face Grand Theft Charges In Alleged Home Hijacking, Rental Scam; Police Probe Continues Into Similar Incident With Another Home

In Port St. Lucie, Florida, the South Florida Sun Sentinel reports:
  • Two men each face a grand theft charge after police linked them to a scheme in which a home was rented to a family without the homeowners' knowledge, according to recently obtained records and a detective. Robbie Jay Hughes, 36, and Issiac Rivers, 46, were arrested Monday after police accused them of renting a home in foreclosure to a family in September 2009.

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  • Hughes eventually refunded nearly all of the rental money and didn't want the renters to speak with police about the matter. [... Detective Kim] Bailey said Hughes is suspected of renting out another home under similar circumstances but the homeowners in that case declined to press charges. [...] Bailey said she's investigating the men in connection with a similar incident at another home in the city.

For the story, see Two men arrested in rental of foreclosed Port St. Lucie home to family.