Warning: Suspicious Activity
As the weather gets warmer, we all start to spend more time outside enjoying the sun. This is also true of would-be criminals who are looking for their next target of opportunity to exploit.
We want to warn you of some suspicious activity which could be examples of possible criminal activity and planning.
Home Security Salesman:
Last April, a homeowner in the Northwood neighborhood reported that a male posing as a home security salesperson came to the caller’s house. He continued to look past the resident, appearing to be more interested in the home's contents instead of trying to sell the product he claimed to be selling. They also reported the male continued to ask probing questions leading the caller to believe the man was trying to ascertain when the home would be vacant and for what length of time.
Later in the month, a homeowner near Hwy. 27 and San Juan Lane/46th Avenue was contacted by a similarly acting suspiciously male with a similar story.
Both homeowners reported they later contacted the home security company and learned they did not have an employee with the name provided by the suspicious man. They also explained they do no sell their home security products by going door-to-door.
The male was described as white, 20-30 years of age, 130-150 lbs., with brown hair and a goatee. He was driving a white, 4-door sedan with damage to the rear driver’s side bumper.
Sprinkler Maintenance:
In late April, a homeowner reported two men approached, stating they were at the home, located in the Glenrose area, to turn on the sprinkler system. The males wore shirts with what appeared to be the company logo on them.
During the conversation, they mentioned a customer’s name, which happened to be the name of the people who previously owned the home ten years prior. The caller believes this information was gained from an internet search.
The homeowner became suspicious when the males seemed more interested in looking around the home and items that could be observed in the garage through the open door.
The homeowner contacted the company and learned they did not have any employees in that area at the time.
The males were described as white and in their 20s and drove a white utility-type truck with no company markings or insignia.
Please be wary of anyone who contacts you unsolicited claiming to be from a business you haven’t contacted for service. Do not let them in your home and call the company at a phone number you looked up yourself to verify their identity. Scammers/potential criminals often provide a fake phone number answered by another scammer who is more than willing to confirm the phony information provided by their partner(s) in crime.
If you believe a scammer has been to your home attempting to fool you into being their next target of opportunity, contact the business they claim to represent using a phone number you looked up. Let the company know what happened and the names of the people who claimed to represent them.
If the company denies having employees in the area or having an employee by the name the person provided, please contact Crime Check at 509-456-2233 and report the incident. If you can safely obtain it, please provide specific information regarding the person’s vehicle (license plate, stickers, insignia, damage, or anything that stands out that would help identify it) and a good description of the person(s).