Water Department Scam Continues to Target the Elderly
Nothing irks me more than crimes involving children and the elderly. Once again, the elderly are being targeted in a scam.
On Tuesday, June 10, 2008, at 10:45 a.m., two men approached an apartment complex in the 5900 block of Lemon Hill Avenue. They contacted the occupants of two units, claiming to work for the “water department.” The men requested that the residents give them a glass of water so they could “inspect it.” They asked the occupants to go outside and turn on their garden hose. One suspect then ransacked the bedrooms while the residents were outside. One of the occupants caught the suspect taking cash, at which time a struggle ensued and the suspects fled on foot. The perpetrators responsible have yet to be apprehended or identified.
Both of the suspects were described as male Fijian or East Indian, approximately 40-years-old, 6’, 190-200 lbs. The Sacramento Police Department wants to stress that employees for the City Department of Utilities will always be wearing a shirt bearing the City of Sacramento’s logo and a photo identification badge displayed in plain view. All City employees drive vehicles that have the City logo displayed on the exterior. It is extremely rare that a City employee would ask to enter a citizen’s home.
Please report any suspicious persons to the Police Department. Anyone with information regarding the above incident is urged to contact Detective Bullard, at (916) 808-1876.
