A 32-year-old Florida woman is accused of allegedly drugging a man she met at a casino and stealing a Rolex valued at nearly $100,000 from his home. Lynda Mae Crouse was charged with second-degree grand theft in connection with the high-value timepiece, but investigators allege this is part of a recurring pattern of crimes committed under similar circumstances.
Background
According to a probable cause affidavit, the victim met Crouse around midnight on April 12 at the Carousel Club inside Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach. The two exchanged Instagram accounts and parted ways briefly before the victim sent an Uber to pick Crouse up at 1:20 a.m. and bring her to his residence.
While the pair consumed alcohol, the victim told investigators he had not drunk enough to black out. He left Crouse alone in the living room to change clothes, at which point he began feeling strange. He described feeling "funny" and extremely tired, hearing a clapping sound from the living room. When he returned, Crouse appeared different and stated she was leaving. The victim fell asleep within minutes of her departure.
Upon waking several hours later, the victim said the strange sensation persisted. He believed he had been drugged and checked the Rolex box left in the living room, finding it empty. He identified Crouse from a six-person photo lineup. The stolen item was a gold 40 mm Rolex Presidential with diamonds covering the entire bezel, valued at $98,400.
The Investigation
Authorities allege Crouse has committed similar crimes multiple times. Investigators identified four active Dade County cases involving a pattern where men met a woman at bars or nightclubs while wearing expensive watches, accompanied her to a home or hotel, and woke up feeling drugged with their watches missing.
In one of the referenced investigations, a victim's toxicology screen detected zolpidem, a prescription sleep aid known to cause sedation and confusion, particularly when mixed with alcohol. Police wrote that the defendant appeared to have intentionally given the Hallandale Beach victim a similar substance.
The affidavit references prior investigations by Aventura police, Miami Beach police, and the city of Miami as part of the alleged pattern. It was not immediately clear if Crouse had been arrested at the time of the initial report.
Key Takeaways
- Lynda Mae Crouse was charged with second-degree grand theft for allegedly stealing a Rolex valued at $98,400.
- The victim met Crouse at Gulfstream Park Casino before she allegedly drugged him at his home.
- Investigators found four similar active cases in Dade County involving expensive watch thefts.
- A previous victim in a similar case had zolpidem detected in their toxicology screen.
- Crouse was identified by the victim in a six-person photo lineup.
What's Next
Court documents indicate Crouse faces charges related to the Hallandale Beach incident, while authorities continue to link the case to prior investigations in Miami-Dade County. Further details on arrest status and upcoming court dates are pending.