Officials are warning Prince George's County residents about a new scam in which a man posing as a utility worker enters homes, while an accomplice steals cash from the resident.
The incident was reported Tuesday in the 1600 block of Elson Street in Chillum just after 2 p.m. An elderly woman said a man who claimed he worked for a water company wanted to check on a potential problem with her water system.
"He said, 'I'm from the water department and we have a gas leak in the water lines,'" the woman told News4 Prince George's County Bureau Chief Tracee Wilkins.
One he was inside, an accomplice entered the home and stole money from the woman's pocketbook. The victim said the man posing as the worker then told her he had to check on something upstairs -- he never came back.
The first suspect posing as a worker is described as a white man in his late 30s, approximately 6'0" tall and weighing about 180 pounds. He wore a uniform shirt and even showed the woman an unknown badge. There is no description of the second suspect.
"I feel like I've been violatedhere," the victim said. "For somebody to go through your house... that's a very scary feeling."
A similar incident was reported last week in Fairfax County, but police have not said whether the cases are related.
Local
Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia local news, events and information
Prince George's County Police have been sent to the area to help identify suspects.
If you have any information, contact police at 1-866-411-TIPS.
