DORAL, Fla. – A 40-year-old man was arrested Wednesday by Doral police after he was accused of taking money from two victims to install sprinklers at their homes, but then never completed the jobs.
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According to an arrest report, on March 27, police officers responded to two homes in the Costa Verde community in the 2900 block of Northwest 97th Court.
Police said one of the homeowners told police that the suspect, Edwin Francisco Acevedo, of Miami, went to her home on March 12 to give her an estimate for the installation of a new sprinkler system.
The victim told officers that he quoted her $4,120 and said he needed half of the money up front to begin the installation.
According to the report, the woman provided him with $2,920, but he never returned to install the sprinkler system.
The victim said she tried calling him for a week but would not answer her calls.
According to the report, the second victim, who is the other victim’s neighbor, told officers that Acevedo gave her a quote for $1,700 on the same day and she provided him $850 via Zelle.
Police said she claimed that he returned to her home the following day and completed about 70 percent of the work, but then stopped showing up.
According to the report, Acevedo eventually spoke on the phone with the victim and told her that his truck broke down and he would need her to send him the rest of the money in order for him to get his truck fixed and return to her home.
Police said the victim then sent Acevedo an additional $850 via Zelle.
After that, Acevedo failed to return to the victim’s home and stopped answering her calls, authorities said.
Police said Acevedo was located Wednesday by Coral Gables police.
He was arrested on charges of organized scheme to defraud, acting as a contractor without a license and third-degree grand theft.
As of Thursday afternoon, Acevedo remained held at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center on an $8,500 bond.