Police Urge Keeping Alert for Scams!
KEEP ALERT FOR HOME REPAIR SCAMS
Kamram Afzal, Commander 2nd district police team has sent us the following alert: The police department responded to a residence in the 2300 block of S. Meade Street on November 6, 2014, in reference to four males possibly engaged in a scam involving the cutting and trimming of trees. All four suspects were stopped and interviewed; while charges directly relating to fraud could not be obtained, the suspects were cited for operating a business without a license. The victim had not paid for any services yet or suffered any financial loss.
This incident was consistent with other home repair and yard work scams that have been previously investigated by the Police Department. The suspects tend to target older residents and have them pay large sums of money for work that is either not done, not completed, or not worth the amount charged. Two typical scams involve cutting down/pruning trees and sealing driveways. In addition, at times the suspects will attempt to distract the resident and steal items from the house, usually entering through a back door while one suspect engages a the resident at the front door.
The above case was brought to light by a neighbor who observed the suspects possibly targeting the victim, approached the suspects, and then called the police. While approaching suspects is a choice that each individual needs to make for themselves, the fact that the neighbor recognized something that seemed out of the ordinary and called the police was important because it enabled the police to intervene.
A few things to keep in mind are: Be wary of individuals soliciting repair work that you have not contacted; Do not pay for work before it has been completed; Do not let multiple individuals in your house; If you are not comfortable with the individuals then ask them to leave and shut the door; If you observe someone who appears to be acting suspiciously call the Police Department.
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