A 49-year-old man was arrested in flagrante on Sunday after allegedly posing as a healer to deceive two women living in a rural area of Franciscópolis, in Brazil’s Jequitinhonha Valley, and take money and jewelry belonging to the family.
According to the Military Police, the man arrived at the property at around 10 a.m. and introduced himself as a gypsy. He said he could pray for the women and purify money and jewelry kept at the house. During the conversation, he allegedly claimed that one of the women was under the influence of a supposed spell and needed spiritual intervention.
The women handed over R$2,480 in cash, a gold chain and a gold wedding band. The suspect then fled by motorcycle toward Malacacheta.
After the victims contacted police and described the man, officers located him in Malacacheta while he was riding a motorcycle. Police said they found R$2,500 in his wallet, as well as the jewelry taken from the residence. The victims identified the recovered items. An additional R$105 was found in the pocket of his trousers.
The motorcycle was impounded and taken to an authorized facility. Police said it had irregularities, including a worn rear tire, and that the rider did not have a driver’s license.
The police report also states that a neighbor had visited the women’s home on Saturday and told them that a gypsy would come the next day to pray. The same neighbor later contacted police and said he had also been victimized by the man on another occasion. The alleged connection is being investigated by the Civil Police.
The women, who live alone in the rural area, told authorities they were afraid of possible retaliation. The suspect was taken to the Municipal Hospital for medical care and later transferred to the Duty Police Station in Teófilo Otoni along with the recovered money and jewelry.
Sources: G1.