A Florida man helped a grieving widow clean out her home — now he's charged with pawning up to $4,000 worth of her family jewelry

Now one of the very friends she asked for help is charged with stealing her gold jewelry and pawning it off for $200 — including a cross pendant and several rings she deemed worth up to $4,000.

Police arrested Russell Leroy Higgins, 42, of Port Charlotte, Florida, with grand theft from a person 65 or older, dealing in stolen property and violating probation in connection with a similar crime. According to an affidavit the arresting officer filed in court, Higgins was already on probation for grand theft in a separate case.

Per the affidavit, Higgins admitted he removed the jewelry from the widow’s nightstand and sold it at a local pawn shop. However, the allegations against him have yet to be proven in court.

Meanwhile, the stolen jewelry was recovered and is set to be returned to its rightful owner. While the case has yet to be heard in court, it raises questions about home security when you’re dealing with a loved one’s possessions after they die.

Avoiding theft amid grief

Grieving people are vulnerable, and, sadly, criminals take advantage of that. Ezekiel Flores, a private banking officer, told KHON2 News in Hawaii that thieves watch obituaries so they can break into people’s homes during memorials.

The Boston law firm Bove Langa Witherell & Soiffeur recommends locking windows and doors and turning on the security system at the family home, and getting a friend or neighbor to watch the house during the funeral service.

If you’re the executor of a loved one’s estate, you have an added responsibility to protect their assets and avoid liability for losses. The firm has tips on what to do with high-value, high-risk items in the days following their death:

• Make sure their personal information and paperwork — including estate planning documents, deeds, vehicle registration, Social Security and account numbers, tax records and more — is safely stored away, whether in physical or digital form.
• Drop off prescription medications at a pharmacy, local health department or local police.
• If there are guns and ammunition on the premises, contact police.

The Arizona law firm Hoopes, Adams & Scharber advises that executors remove antiques, art, jewelry, electronics and cash from the home for safekeeping. If the deceased had a car, make sure it’s insured until it can be given to a named beneficiary or sold.

If a deceased person’s home is empty, it will need 24/7 security — like an activated alarm system and new locks. It’s also a good idea to check the home insurance policy, as many won’t insure the contents inside unless someone is watching it on a regular basis.

Additionally, cancel newspaper subscriptions, redirect mail, set lights on timers and arrange for maintenance work to make the home look occupied.

Sorting through a loved one’s possessions is emotionally and physically draining. It’s natural to turn to friends and family for help. If you outsource the job to a professional estate cleaning service, make sure the staff are bonded and insured.

Regardless of who helps with the clean-out, ensure you’re present throughout the process, as you’re responsible for any losses, even if accidental. And take your time through such a massive undertaking. If you rush to clean up in the wake of a death, you might make decisions that you regret later.

Preventing online theft in the wake of a loss

It isn’t just physical theft people have to worry about when they’re grieving. As AARP reports, online scammers watch for online obituaries, gathering the names of the deceased and their survivors to perpetrate bereavement scams.