Scam artists posing as repairmen targeting area

Roseville Police Warn about Phony “Repairmen”

Recently two suspects posing as repairmen talked their way into a home and stole money from a 75-year-old Roseville resident.  Such “home repair” scam artists steal from senior citizens at least once or twice a year in Roseville.

At about 4 p.m. on January 30, two men knocked on the door of a 75-year-old man on Cedar Street, and told him they needed to check the condition of his roof. The resident had not noticed any problems with his roof, and had not called anyone to make repairs, but he let the two men into his home anyway.  The men walked around the house, purportedly looking at the ceiling for spots where the roof might have leaked.  The two “repairmen” went into different areas of the house and yard, so that the resident could not watch them both at the same time. The suspects then told the resident they needed to go to their truck to get a warranty form, and would be right back. They then got into their pickup and left. The resident then noticed his wallet was laying open on a coffee table, and the cash inside his wallet was gone.

The suspects were both described as olive-complexioned males in their 20s, 6’1″ tall, with black hair. One weighed approximately 150 pounds and wore a dark shirt; the other weighed approximately 200 pounds and wore a light colored sweatshirt. They drove a white extended-cab pickup with a short bed. The pickup did not have any business name or logo on it.

Roseville Police Chief Mike Blair said, “This is an unfortunate reminder not to let strangers into your home.You should be cautious about anyone claiming to be a repairman or utility worker if  you haven’t reported a problem or requested services. If you feel uneasy about someone, tell them to leave your home, and then call police.”

The National Crime Prevention Council advises residents not to accept offers from “drive up” workers who “just happen” to be in the neighborhood.  If they’re reliable, they’ll come back after you check them out. Always ask for identification and a contractor’s license number, and never pay with cash.