It has brought to my attention that a suspected con artist is working the north end of the neighborhood- specifically reported on 27th Avenue North.
The suspect is a white male with red hair, about six feet tall, early to mid-thirties, clean-cut, clean shaven, well dressed, with a full face but of average weight. He purportedly blends into the neighborhood very well- does not appear to be suspicious.
The man has tried to gain access to at least three homes by using the following ploys:
- claiming to be a new resident without his phone installed yet, out of cash, but willing to give his house keys and an ID (fake) if the ''neighbor'' will loan him money - claiming his mother has been rushed to the hospital in Tallahassee
- claiming to be from the water department- if you answer the door he asks if the people next door are home because he has just shut off their water
It is believed that this man is trying to ''work'' the neighborhood- either to bilk neighbors of their money and/or to case out the neighborhood to see who is home and who is not- he has been seen anywhere from the hours of noon until 1am in the morning.
It is urgent that if you see or are approached by this man that you contact the St. Petersburg Police immediately at the non-emergency number 893-7780 and tell the dispatcher that the CPO for this area has asked that an officer be sent immediately because this is a recurring problem and the suspect needs to be questioned.
It is important to know your neighbors- this man has been unsuccessful on 27th Avenue because the neighbors knew one another and did not give out information and called one another.
The suspect is a white male with red hair, about six feet tall, early to mid-thirties, clean-cut, clean shaven, well dressed, with a full face but of average weight. He purportedly blends into the neighborhood very well- does not appear to be suspicious.
The man has tried to gain access to at least three homes by using the following ploys:
- claiming to be a new resident without his phone installed yet, out of cash, but willing to give his house keys and an ID (fake) if the ''neighbor'' will loan him money - claiming his mother has been rushed to the hospital in Tallahassee
- claiming to be from the water department- if you answer the door he asks if the people next door are home because he has just shut off their water
It is believed that this man is trying to ''work'' the neighborhood- either to bilk neighbors of their money and/or to case out the neighborhood to see who is home and who is not- he has been seen anywhere from the hours of noon until 1am in the morning.
It is urgent that if you see or are approached by this man that you contact the St. Petersburg Police immediately at the non-emergency number 893-7780 and tell the dispatcher that the CPO for this area has asked that an officer be sent immediately because this is a recurring problem and the suspect needs to be questioned.
It is important to know your neighbors- this man has been unsuccessful on 27th Avenue because the neighbors knew one another and did not give out information and called one another.
