Businessman denounces scam after objects disappear from rented apartment in Ribeirão Preto

A businessman says he was the victim of a scam after objects disappeared from a furnished apartment he rented to two women in Ribeirão Preto (SP). A police report was registered.

According to businessman Octávio Candido Pereira Neto, a TV, a barbecue, household utensils and even bottles of shampoo were taken. The estimated loss is R$5,000.

The building is located in Jardim Paulista, East Zone of the city. To rent the property, the tenants approached the real estate agency where it was advertised and signed a rental contract. Octavio suspects that the documentation presented is false.

"They presented legal documents, tenant with property in her name, guarantor. There are two women, a couple. The tenant is number one, the guarantor is number two. They both have properties in their name, with professions and, until then, without any suspicion", says Octávio.

TV taken was taken from a furnished rented apartment in Ribeirão Preto, SP, says owner — Photo: Tiago Aureliano/EPTV

Warning sign

According to the businessman, suspicions that a crime could be taking place began when neighbors and the building manager himself became suspicious of people coming and going in the apartment.

"In a week and a half of rental, the car only came and went here at night, or in the late afternoon, or in the early morning. That's what caught the attention of the neighbors, who called us. Until we discovered that, on the 29th, the television was removed. It was their last visit. Contact was made, but without success."

Security camera footage from last Tuesday (29) shows the moment a man placed a TV in the car that was in the parking lot.

Octávio believes that the tenants rented the property with plans to commit the crime.

"From the beginning, they were in a hurry to get the keys. So much so that we said, sign the contract first and then come and get the key (...) The key was delivered in their name, although it was a third party who took the key and signed his name (...) So he facilitated the entry of other people to come here and take the items from the apartment."

Man carries TV from furnished rented apartment and puts it in car in Ribeirão Preto, SP, says owner — Photo: Reproduction/Security cameras

Took without warning

In other images, a woman appeared carrying more things with a man who was carrying a backpack. Outside, another camera caught two people leaving with bags in their hands. The keys to the property did not remain with the tenants for even ten days.

"We feel deceived, betrayed and, therefore, powerless, you know, because we can't do anything. We don't even know if these people use real names", says the businessman.

To EPTV, a TV Globo affiliate, one of the tenants said that her son took the TV and did not notify the real estate agency. According to the woman, he intends to return the device in the next few days. She also said that she did not remove household items from the apartment.

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