Yonkers resident Hanlet Cabrera, 41, allegedly called an 87-year-old man in Franklin Square on Friday, Nov. 15 last year, identifying himself as the man’s grandson, Nassau County Police said. Cabrera said that he needed $5,000 for bail following an alleged arrest and would be contacted by an attorney.
Police said that “the attorney” called later that day and told Cabrera’s victim to put $5,000 cash in an envelope and to put it in his mailbox the following day to be picked up by a bail bondsman.
Becoming suspicious, Cabrera’s victim stuffed the envelope with paper and put it in his mailbox. Upon the arrival of the “bail bondsman,” the man was able to observe his identity and license plate number of the vehicle he was driving.
The man then contacted police and the investigation into the attempted scam led to detectives identifying Cabrera. He was located on Thursday, Feb. 6 and taken into custody without incident.
Cabrera was arrested and charged with third-degree attempted grand larceny. He is scheduled to be arraigned in First District Court in Hempstead on Friday, Feb. 7.
Investigators are continuing to investigate, and said anyone who may have been victimized by Cabrera should contact detectives in the Fifth Squad at (516) 573-6553 or Suffolk County Crime Stoppers at 1-800-220-TIPS.
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