A woman is accused of drugging a man she met at an South Florida event venue after taking an Uber ride to his home, where she allegedly stole his gold Rolex.
Lynda Mae Crouse, 32, of Miami, has been linked to additional “bad date” cases involving alleged druggings as part of a scheme to steal victims’ belongings, according to court records viewed by Us.
Crouse was arrested on Friday, September 11, on a charge of second-degree grand theft in connection with the Rolex she allegedly stole from the man she met in April, court records show.
On April 12, Crouse exchanged Instagram accounts with the man after meeting him around midnight at the Carousel Club, a large open-air entertainment space featuring a cocktail lounge in Hallandale Beach, according to a probable cause affidavit.
After they parted ways, an officer wrote in the affidavit that the man ordered an Uber to pick up Crouse, who was driven to his home around 1:40 a.m.
Crouse and the man drank a few alcoholic beverages together, but “not enough” for the man to “‘black out’ or ‘pass out,’” he told investigators. However, he eventually started feeling “funny” and groggy.
He recalled hearing a clapping noise coming from his living room at a certain point, and later came to believe was the sound of his Rolex watch box being shut, according to the affidavit.
After hearing the sound, he told investigators that Crouse said she was going home, the affidavit states.
“The victim was becoming increasingly more tired and confused and fell asleep within minutes of (Crouse) leaving his residence,” the filing continues.
When he awoke hours later, he was still feeling “funny” and suspected he had been drugged, according to investigators. He then allegedly opened his Rolex box and discovered his watch was missing.
He believes Crouse stole the watch, which featured multiple diamonds covering the bezel according to the affidavit, which says the Rolex had been appraised at $98,400.
The man told police that although he didn’t take a drug test, that the “funny” feeling from allegedly being drugged lingered, the affidavit states.
He later identified Crouse from a photo lineup, according to the affidavit.
Crouse is accused of four similar cases in Miami-Dade County, where she allegedly appeared to “intentionally drug her victims with a sedative substance in order to incapacitate them and steal their property,” according to investigators.
“She targets her victims at a bar or night club who are wearing expensive watches,” the officer wrote in the affidavit.
In one case, a toxicology test confirmed a victim had a sleep aid in their system, according to the filing. This victim allegedly experienced similar effects described by the man who met Crouse at the Carousel Club.
Court records didn’t indicate whether Crouse had retained legal counsel or entered a plea.
During a Monday, September 14, probable cause hearing, the court ruled there was enough probable cause to believe Crouse allegedly stole the man’s Rolex.
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