Thieves posing as utility company employees

[Jeff White]

Common ruse but for some reason it's never discussed here. Everyone here is too worried about home invaders posing as the police to give much thought to a much more likely scenario you could face.

http://www.stltoday.com/blogzone/st...-man-posing-as-laclede-employee-to-rob-women/

07.30.2009 9:31 pm
UPDATE: Arrest made in case of man posing as Laclede employee to rob women
By Leah Thorsen
St. Louis Post-Dispatch

ST. LOUIS — The man suspected of posing as a Laclede Gas Co. employee to get inside the homes of elderly women to rob them was arrested Thursday, police said. A woman saw that he fit the description of the man wanted for the crimes when he came to her home about 3:30 p.m. and said he worked for Laclede. She didn’t let him in and called 911, police said.

Three officers spotted the man a short time later in the 3800 block of Marine Avenue and arrested him. Police did not release his name because he hasn’t been charged, but said he is in his 40s and was in police custody late Thursday. He could be charged as soon as Friday.

Police believe the man could be responsible for as many as five thefts, all carried out using the same ruse. The first occurred on July 22 in the 3900 block of Minnesota Avenue. The robber went into the basement of a house, then told the woman who lived there that she owed him $100. When she took cash out of an envelope, he grabbed the envelope and left, police said.

On Sunday, the robber allegedly carried out four robberies. In the first, he entered an unlocked door in the 3600 block of Alberta Street and took cash from a wallet. A person who lived there awoke as he left. He said he worked for Laclede and was there to check the meter, police said. Also that day, he knocked on the rear door of a home in the 4600 block of Alaska Avenue and again claimed to work for Laclede. When the woman refused, he forced the door open, pushed her, took her purse and ran, police said.

He then knocked on a door in the 4000 block of Pennsylvania Avenue, again claiming to work for the gas company. He forced his way in and went to the basement. He told the victim that he had to turn off the gas and that she owed him $75. She refused to pay and he shoved her and demanded the money. She gave him a small amount of cash and he left. He also carried out the same scheme in the 4100 block of East Iowa Avenue, claiming there was a problem with the meter and threatening to turn off the gas if she didn’t show him the meter. He threw the woman on a bed and demanded money, police said. She gave him cash and he left.

The victims ranged in age from 80 to 92, police said.

Earlier this week, Laclede Gas Co. offered a $5,000 reward for information leading to the man’s arrest. It was not immediately clear whether the woman who called police on Thursday will receive the reward money.

Utility company employees carry identification and that should be checked.

 

[Shadow 7D]

Actually thats not the one that worries me, many older people have medical assistants or delivery people who they let into their homes every day. I worked as a delivery driver for a medical equipment company and sometimes it amazed me how easily I got into some places with nothing but a clipboard and a box.

That said it was the companies policy to make sure that our clients knew and expected us when we were delivering their goods. However I never had difficulty getting into a supposedly "secure" apartment or condo, usually the neighbor or employee even held the door open for me.

 

[Jon_Snow]

Also that day, he knocked on the rear door of a home in the 4600 block of Alaska Avenue and again claimed to work for Laclede. When the woman refused, he forced the door open, pushed her, took her purse and ran, police said.

Sounds like asking him for ID wouldn't have helped much. Then again, having the uniform probably allowed him to approach the door without raising any suspicions.

 

[Nicodemus38]

most people are trained to do anything the uniformed man with a clipboard says. two reasons are that schools now train us to do that from our toddler years. and second, most people think that if you "resist" or quible with a "utility" worker or member of the city/county gas/water/electric/etc man, youll get fines, extra fees, as well as a higher hourly rate for them to do the work they claim needs to be done.

Sadly enough, people also dont realize that you dont legally need to let the utility man in, if its actually a gas leak or something, the police will be there to to clear the whole neighbor hood as they seem to enjoy doing these days.

 

[Avenger29]

Common ruse but for some reason it's never discussed here. Everyone here is too worried about home invaders posing as the police to give much thought to a much more likely scenario you could face.

It's a lot easier to get a utility worker's uniform. It's a lot easier to gain access to areas as a utility worker than a cop. Just act like you belong there.

A utility van, commonly available, lets you have access to areas without attracting attention. Everybody notices a cop car, nobody sees the telephone company van. Mocking up a cop car takes work, mocking up a utility company van, not nearly as much.

 

[Cards81fan]

And my wife thought I was paranoid when I ran pantless into the backyard with the XD... to make sure it was really the meter reader.

We were home, he could'a knocked

 

[YammyMonkey]

Call the company & verify that the person is supposed to be there.

I wonder if this story would be a little different if this old lady hadn't seen a description of this guy. If that's the only thing that tipped her off the whole deal could have gone much worse for her.

 

[rainbowbob]

Utility company employees carry identification and that should be checked.

I think this suggestion requires further discussion.

Q: How do you check ID (which can easily be made at Kinko's) through a locked, solid-core door?

...it amazed me how easily I got into some places with nothing but a clipboard and a box.

Much to my chagrin - I have been fooled by that one (a process server). :banghead:

Next time it'll be..."Leave it on the porch!"

 

[Jeff White]

Q: How do you check ID (which can easily be made at Kinko's) through a locked, solid-core door?

You call the utility company and ask them if anyone has been dispatched to your residence.

 

[Birdmang]

I worked for the largest natural gas supplier in the nation and I could get anywhere with a hard hat and a yellow vest. Meter readers for the city and for companies just walk through backyards...I would refuse to check meters in older houses' basements because i was unarmed and working in Maywood, IL.

I have never heard of people posing as readers but the regular knock on the door type I have heard of.

 

[ilbob]

The bad part is that many times the media does not report just how these guys manage to get into people's homes.

I would guess the majority of home invasions are not "smash down the door" type scenarios.

A lot of people don't lock their doors or rely on flimsy screen doors and others will let just about anyone in.

The bottom line - if you did not call for someone to come to your home, don't let them in or even unlock the door until you look up the phone number and call for verification (DON'T call the number they have on their "ID" cards). If they claim to be cops, call 911 if you have even a remote suspicion of them.

Call 911 if they leave when you tell them you are calling to verify their ID, as they are certainly fraudulent. You could be saving someone else from being preyed on.

 

[rainbowbob]

Q: How do you check ID (which can easily be made at Kinko's) through a locked, solid-core door?

A: You call the utility company and ask them if anyone has been dispatched to your residence.

Good answer.

 

[LightningJoe]

Our ability to function as a society depends to a large extent on our general trustworthiness. As the country continues its four decade slide, the number of crooks and con men increases. Eventually, so many safeguards have to be built into every system to deal with fraud and dishonesty that nothing can really work.


When there's a pretty good chance the guy in the brown uniform doesn't really work for UPS, or the guy with the blue light in his car isn't really a cop, or the meals-on-wheels lady is casing your apartment, people can only sit behind barred windows and wonder what to do.


We may have recently hit another inflection point in the curve. The slope may get more negative than it has been since the eighties.

 

[Hoxviii]

Looking/acting like you’re supposed to be there is the key. Last summer I was observing a large construction project to collect information for a presentation (Civil engineering major). I was in khakis and a polo with a clipboard and a camera as was a friend that was with me. We were talking and pointing while taking notes when a guy on the crew flagged us over. Told us that if we had hardhats we could come onsite, and if not we just had to check in at the project trailer to get a set.

We both had them in my truck so we grabbed them and jumped at the opportunity to get on site, got some awesome pictures and a lot of good information.

As we left the guy asked, “So did you see anything that needs to be taken care of right away?” We looked at him kinda funny saying no, we were just getting pictures and information and thanked him for letting us on site since we never imagined being able to get that close and get that kind of first hand information.

He looks at us kinda funny and says, “So you aren’t with OSHA?”

ALWAYS, ALWAYS check ID’s and verify people are who you think they are/are presenting themselves as.

 

[rondog]

Quote:
Q: How do you check ID (which can easily be made at Kinko's) through a locked, solid-core door?

A: You call the utility company and ask them if anyone has been dispatched to your residence.

Good answer.

If a regular commoner tries to call the Utility Company, the only number you'll find in the phonebook is for Customer Service, to pay bills and complain. I seriously doubt Joe or Jane Citizen will actually reach someone who can say that yes or no, someone is supposed to be coming to your door. It's very hard to get ahold of someone familiar with maintenance dispatches. I work in Telecom, and it can be nigh impossible trying to reach people I need to talk to with other telcos, or even with our own commercial customers.

 

[Jeff White]

If a regular commoner tries to call the Utility Company, the only number you'll find in the phonebook is for Customer Service, to pay bills and complain. I seriously doubt Joe or Jane Citizen will actually reach someone who can say that yes or no, someone is supposed to be coming to your door.

That's odd, I have the repair numbers for all my utilities. Didn't have to hunt them down either. Printed on the bill in most cases.

 

[Deltaboy1984]

Me and a friend walked all over the Ball Park at Arlington TX before it opened with nothing more than a 25 foot Stanley Tape on our belts and a couple of clip boards. We were never challenged about anything and we were there nearly an hour and a half.

I have the numbers for all my utilities saved in my cordless house phone and in my cell. You should too.

 

[CWL]

Everything anyone needs to see is outside the house. Utility employees are welcome to access the meters, shut-offs, etc for all emergencies.

Inside my home, I need to have made the appointment for someone to get in. Whatever service person is allowed inside my home will be aware of the dogs, but not the M1911 at my hip.

 

[2nd 41]

My Uncle did fall for the (fake) Water Co. employee telling him they needed to check for any water leaks....his meter wasn't reading correctly. He let them in....bingo...they took what they could. He didn't have a lot to begin with.

 

[Birdmang]

There was a robbery in Skokie, IL (N Burb of Chicago) either today or yesterday...a BG dressed as a UPS guy knocked on the door and asked for a pen, then barged in the door with another guy and tied up the homeowner, then took stuff.

 

[DHJenkins]

I usually won't open the door unless Mr. Uniform has a truck parked out front.

 

[Deltaboy1984]

I greet all guest at my door with a 45 on my hip. They never know it is there and that is the Plan.

 

[mbt2001]

Q: How do you check ID (which can easily be made at Kinko's) through a locked, solid-core door?

A: You call the utility company and ask them if anyone has been dispatched to your residence.

I think looking at their van / truck would also be helpful and wouldn't require opening the door per se. I doubt a thief is going to spend tens of thousands outfitting a truck that LOOKS like the phone company truck or cable company truck. Mind you, they could have stolen it, but there you go.

 

[jbrown50]

I think looking at their van / truck would also be helpful and wouldn't require opening the door per se. I doubt a thief is going to spend tens of thousands outfitting a truck that LOOKS like the phone company truck or cable company truck. Mind you, they could have stolen it, but there you go.

Yes, they could just steal both the truck and uniform at the same time. Most utility and delivery companies and gov't agencies are too busy and have too little administrative staff to notice missing equipment until later on in the day or week when an inventory or other check may be done. Even if it's picked up by surveillance cameras, unless the stolen vehicle shows up at a possible terrorist target, it's recovery will remain at the bottom of the priority list.

When a stranger knocks I always answer the door with a j-frame in my pocket, a gun that won't jam at contact distance. If I just got home it may be a Kahr PM9. If they get me they're gonna take some bullets first. It'll be easier for the cops to find 'em.

 

[dev_null]

cardsfan, meter readers read as many as several hundred meters in a day, month in and month out, in all kinds of weather. Bad enough they have to deal with locked gates, owners who deliberately let the dog out on them, and people who plant sticker bushes in front of the meter. Now you expect them to knock on every door and wait for you to check their ID before they can read the meter? At every house? No wonder the utilities are moving to remote telemetry meters.