Man using fake badge to enter elderly residents' homes arrested

Date: 1/14/2009

By G. Michael Dobbs

Managing Editor



SPRINGFIELD The man believed to have robbed elderly residents in Springfield by flashing a badge to gain entry to their homes has been arrested.

Sgt. John Delaney announced to the press on Thursday that Nelson Aponte of 77 Drexel St. and 41 Spring St. was arrested while hiding in a closet at 77 Drexel St.

Detectives made the arrest at 12:30 p.m.

Aponte, age 31, was charged with failure to register as a sex offender; four counts of impersonating a police officer; four counts of larceny over $250; four counts of entering a dwelling under false pretenses; credit card fraud under $250; and for a warrant for larceny of a motor vehicle.

Delaney wrote in his press release, "The case was put together with the cooperation from the victims and neighbors and the Springfield Housing Authority (SHA). This individual would target the elderly, flash a badge, state he was a cop and then enter their dwellings. He would talk fast to the victims, scan their dwellings and look for purses or money and flee.

"Mr. Aponte is a twenty bag a day heroin addict and was not stopping his quest of robbing the elderly in Springfield to feed his habit. After his arrest his drug habit came to a screeching halt. Aponte is being held on high bail at Ludlow Corrections."

Delaney added, "The elderly that live in the Hungry Hill and East Springfield area will be glad to know that this suspect is off the city streets. Detectives involved in the case are putting together more cases of impersonating a police officer against Mr. Aponte and more charges are likely to follow. Commissioner William Fitchet praised the work of the officers involved and the cooperation and patience of the elderly victims and the SHA."