If you find someone in your New Tampa home, they might not be a burglar or robber, but rather a “gypsy,” the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) says.

According to an April 8 press release from HCSO, in law enforcement, the word “gypsy” refers to people who travel in small groups across the country, perpetrating crimes of theft, burglary and fraud — and these types of crimes increase throughout the Tampa Bay area each spring and summer.

“Gypsy scams are incidents that often occur in daylight hours, in which a suspect will literally walk right into someone’s home for the purpose of stealing jewelry or money,” said HCSO spokesperson Larry McKinnon in the release. “Very often, the homeowner is either in or near the home.”

McKinnon explains that when these individuals are caught, they make up excuses as to why they’re in the home or on the property. To prevent this, HCSO recommends always keeping the doors to your home locked and your garage doors closed, even when your kids aren’t home alone.

HCSO also warns of another type of crime that is common at this time of the year, involving “Travelers,” also sometimes referred to as “Irish Travelers,” or groups of traveling home improvement workers, who prey upon unsuspecting homeowners, especially the elderly. These groups go door-to-door, offering to pave and seal driveways at a cheap price.

The release says that the groups perform “shoddy” work with cheap materials. When the homeowners try to locate the workers to repair the job, they can’t be located. Or, they’ll call to cancel the check they paid with, but it’s already been cashed.

HCSO says that if a deal sounds too good to be true, homeowners should try to find the company online through the Better Business Bureau and never pay for a job in advance.

If you have any info about any individuals who may be involved in construction or home repair fraud or any other “gypsy crimes,” contact HCSO Construction Fraud Unit at 247-8622. — MW