Lynn woman charged with robbing neighbor

LYNN – A Flint Street woman’s act of goodwill toward her fellow neighbor took an unbelievable turn for the worse when the same neighbor she tried to help allegedly barged into her home and robbed her, prosecutors said Monday.Tim Scott (a female), 42, and Alma Denton, 41, two sisters who both reside on the second floor apartment of 10 Flint St., were arraigned Monday in Lynn District Court on charges of home invasion, armed assault in a dwelling, armed robbery and assault and battery.Police say Scott masterminded the home invasion through befriending the victim Friday afternoon.The victim, a 36-year-old mother of a 4-year-old boy who moved into the first floor apartment three weeks ago, told police Scott knocked on her door around 3 p.m. with her 3-year-old niece in tow. Scott asked the victim if her niece could play with the victim’s son since there are not many children around the neighborhood.According to a police report, the victim allowed Scott inside. The two women chit-chatted for about an hour as the children played together.Later that night, around 9:30 p.m., the victim said she and her son were listening to music when they heard loud banging. Police say it was Scott kicking down the front door while holding a long knife.Scott and Denton had allegedly barged into the apartment when Denton grabbed the victim by the throat and ripped off a gold chain necklace and several pieces of jewelry, causing numerous lacerations on the victim’s neck, according to police.Scott then allegedly went into the victim’s bedroom and stole $450 cash from a dresser drawer, which the victim believes Scott noticed when she visited her earlier in the day.Police say Scott likely cased the apartment in the afternoon with the intention of robbing the victim later. The victim also told Scott that her husband wouldn’t be home that night.Before leaving, Scott allegedly said to the victim, “Don’t say anything or I will be back? Don’t forget that my family is the Denton family and I know where to find you,” according to a police report.After police arrived, officers found Denton inside her apartment, where the victim positively identified her as the suspect. Police found Scott at her mother’s home a few hours later at 7 Willow St., apartment 304.Both women were arraigned Monday. Judge Albert Conlon set Denton’s bail at $500 and Judge Dunbar Livingston set Scott’s bail at $1,000. They are due back in court May 5 for a probable cause hearing.