A St. Petersburg man was arrested Monday after police said he posed as a handyman, then robbed single, elderly women in Gulfport.
David Ryals, 28, is facing multiple charges of residential burglary and exploitation of the elderly. Police said they have identified four victims so far, ranging in age from 67 to 85 years old, and they believe there could be more.
According to Gulfport police, Ryals convinced a 68-year-old woman to give him a down payment on a concrete repair job. He told the woman he would do the work while she was out of town, but instead, he broke into her house and stole jewelry and other valuables, police said.
Police said that on Sunday, 85-year-old Theresa Drouin said that Ryals agreed to do a pressure-cleaning job for her, and that he talked her into giving him cash to put in the pressure washer, but he never returned.
Drouin said Ryals appeared honest and was wearing a crucifix.
“I believe someone with something sacred, something good, they are a good person. They must be,” she said.
The victim agreed to give him $30 and said Ryals promised to return the next day to complete the work.
“So, the next day he didn’t come. I called, no answer, no answer, no answer. So, I called the police,” she said.
Ryals has allegedly stolen from at least two other people, and police said that when they took him into custody, they found several pieces of jewelry in his pockets. They are still trying to identify the owners of the jewelry.
Anyone with additional information about this is asked to call 727-893-1654.