A West Hempstead woman was arrested after police said a victim paid $7,000 to rent a Hempstead home only to later discover that the actual homeowner had never rented out the property.
Aurelia Soogea, 39, was arrested Wednesday, Aug. 19, following an investigation into the alleged rental scheme, according to Nassau County police.
Detectives said the case began July 17, when a 49-year-old woman met with a man and woman after arranging to rent a home on Meadowbrook Road in Hempstead.
The victim provided the pair with $7,000 for the first month’s rent and a security deposit, police said.
When she returned to the property the following day to collect paperwork, she encountered the actual homeowner, a 42-year-old man. Police said the homeowner told her he had never rented the house to anyone.
The homeowner also discovered that a lockbox outside the home had been damaged and that the key stored inside was missing, according to police.
Detectives located Soogea at 20 Hempstead Ave. in West Hempstead on Aug. 19 and took her into custody. Police said she provided detectives with a fraudulent New York State driver’s license during the investigation.
Soogea was charged with second-degree burglary, third-degree grand larceny, second-degree possession of a forged instrument and first-degree scheme to defraud.
She was arraigned Thursday, Aug. 20, at First District Court in Hempstead.
Police said the investigation remains ongoing and are asking anyone who believes they may have been the victim of a similar incident to contact Nassau County Crime Stoppers at 1-800-244-TIPS or the Third Squad at 516-573-6353. All callers will remain anonymous.
Photo: NCPD
