Palo Alto, CA -- Recently, there have been several reported crimes in the Bay Area targeting seniors using an old "Gypsy" type tree trimmer scam.

In Palo Alto, on Saturday, May 31st, at approximately 4:00 pm, an 89 year old woman answered her door to find a smooth talking, well dressed man in his 30's who told her that he was trimming trees on the property behind hers and would like to cut an overhanging branch. He insisted on taking her to the back yard to show her and while she was distracted, a confederate went into the house and ransacked her bedroom taking jewelry. When the woman confronted the two, one of them threw water on her, claiming it was acid, then fled. (An artist's sketch of the two suspects in this case can be found and downloaded at www.sketch-artist.com/paloalto/03-1510130.html)

On June 7, at 2:00PM, another senior couple in Palo Alto saw six men in a van pull into their driveway, giving them the same phony story. While three were in the backyard with the husband, the other three entered the home uninvited and ransacked the house until he and his wife finally figured out what was happening and ordered them to leave. These men fled in a blue, 90's minivan similar to a Chevy AstroVan.

Similar crimes have been reported in Milpitas, San Jose and South San Francisco.

This scam is familiar to law enforcement bunco investigators. Many nomadic organized criminal families are using the tree trimmer scam, distracting the homeowner while a second suspect commits a burglary. Convincing a victim that water is acid has been used in order to convince the victim to remove jewelry. Residents should be aware of this and other scams that target the elderly. Don't open your doors to strangers and do not take anyone into the back yard, no matter how convincing the story is. Call 911 immediately to report similar incidents to local law enforcement.

Anyone with information can call Palo Alto robbery detective Jim Coffman at number above or elder crimes detective Lori Kratzer at 650-329-2219.

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