Man Accused Of Using Obits To Burgle Homes While Families Attended Funerals

A Florida man has been arrested for burglarizing 10 homes, targeting the houses of deceased people while their families attended funerals.

Ronald Rose, 42, from Lake Wales was arrested Monday on charges including 2 counts of armed burglary, 8 counts of burglary of unoccupied dwellings and grand theft between $20,000 and $100,000, according to a news release from Polka County Sheriff’s Office.

Rose has been charged for 10 burglaries that occurred between Oct. 1, 2020, and Feb. 8, 2021, in Auburndale, Mulberry, Lakeland and Haines City. He admitted to committing one of the Auburndale burglaries during the police interview.

The investigators found out that nine out of the 10 burglaries occurred while the families were away at a funeral that had public notices in obituaries.

“He looked at obituaries, he researched out the address and he went to their homes while they were at the funeral,” Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said, reported news outlet NY Post. “He would go in, he stole guns, he stole jewelry, but everything he did was in a respectful manner,” Judd added. This made the victims suspect that a mourning relative who “wanted something special” to remember the deceased must have taken the items, Judd told the reporters.

The police found that the suspect’s vehicle matched with the description given by the witnesses. During a search at his house, they found and recovered the stolen items from the 10 burglaries.

The investigators also found out that Rose used a rental car for the recent burglary in Auburndale. The investigators believe that there are more victims to his burglaries, possibly from other counties, as they found additional stolen items other than what was reported by the known victims.

“People who burglarize or steal are low, so victimizing people during a time when they are grieving the loss of a loved one…that’s lower than low. Someone who is willing to take advantage of people at a time like this has no compassion or consideration, and is a true menace to society,” Judd said.

Rose was previously arrested on multiple charges including burglaries, battery, thefts and drug possessions. He had faced a total of six felony charges and 15 misdemeanor charges during these arrests.

Rose remains held without bond Thursday in Polka county.