Two Men Arrested for Burglary in Home Repair Scam

Two men were arrested Wednesday for burglarizing an elderly woman’s home last week under the guise of a home repair.

Bruce Wimmer, 32, of Bohemia and Michael Windland, 28, of Lake Ronkonkoma entered a 92-year-old woman’s Bellport home on Aug. 16 at approximately 2 p.m. pretending to be chimney cleaners for a company called N.Y. Finest Home Improvements and said they would perform a chimney inspection. One man distracted the resident while the other stole $130 from church envelopes and $35 from bank envelopes, as well as some 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 at a later date. After they left, she became suspicious and called the police.

Wimmer was charged with burglary in the second degree and Windland was charged with burglary in the second degree and criminal possession of a controlled substance. Both men are prior convicted felons.

The suspects will be held overnight at the Fifth Precinct and are scheduled for arraignment at First District Court in Central Islip on Thursday.

Fifth Squad detectives are urging anyone who thinks she or he has been a victim of this scam to call (631) 854-8552.