Florida Man Reports Stolen Rolex After Night Out
A night out for a man in Florida took a turn for the worse when he felt unusually tired and “funny” after bringing a woman home. He later discovered that his nearly $100,000 Rolex was missing, according to police. This incident is part of a broader investigation into four similar cases in Miami-Dade, which includes a report of a possible drugging.
Authorities arrested 32-year-old Lynda Mae Crouse last Friday in Hollywood during a separate unrelated incident. An arrest affidavit, which was obtained by People magazine, details her arrest relating to an outstanding warrant from Broward County.
In one of the other cases, an alleged victim underwent toxicology testing and tested positive for zolpidem, a prescription sleep aid used to treat insomnia.
Crouse faces charges of second-degree grand theft, a felony, and was released the following day after posting a $2,500 bond.
According to the probable cause affidavit from the Hallandale Beach Police Department, Crouse met the man at the Carousel Club just after midnight on April 12. The Carousel Club is a large open-air venue at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach.
After exchanging Instagram details, the man called an Uber less than two hours later to pick Crouse up from her home and take her to his place. Upon her arrival, they drank several alcoholic beverages together.
At some point, the man went to change clothes and suddenly felt very tired and strange, as noted in the affidavit. He reported hearing a “clapping sound” coming from the living room while Crouse was alone.
When he returned, Crouse was acting differently and announced she was leaving. He said he fell asleep almost immediately after she left.
Several hours later, when he awoke, he still felt the lingering effects of an unknown substance. He then checked for his Rolex and found it missing, despite having an appraisal document that valued it at $98,400. The watch was a diamond-studded Rolex Presidential model.
The man identified Crouse from a photo lineup provided by the police. Interestingly, he did not seek medical attention, and no toxicology tests were performed on him.
Investigators suspect that Crouse may have employed a similar strategy in at least four other incidents in Miami-Dade County, as she is believed to have targeted men wearing expensive watches in nightlife venues, returning to their residences or hotel rooms before the victims realized their watches were gone.
In the connected case where another victim tested positive for zolpidem, there were comparable symptoms reported, making investigators believe there are patterns emerging.
A judge has mandated that Crouse must avoid contact with the alleged victim as the investigation continues. However, the Hallandale Beach Police Department has not yet provided additional comments on the ongoing inquiry.
