Thieves Posing as DWP Workers, Police Say

Los Angeles police issued a warning Tuesday about criminals who pose as Department of Water and Power workers to get inside homes to steal.

Det. Don Perez of the Hollenbeck Division said there have been 15 reported cases in Los Angeles since October. But he added: “This is the kind of crime that often goes unreported because the victims are embarrassed that they have been taken or are reluctant because they are scared of retaliation.”

Police described only one thief but said that in a few cases as many as four men were involved. The main thief was described as being 28 to 32 years old, about 210 pounds and 5 feet, 7 inches tall, with a goatee. He wears dark blue clothes and a blue cap. He has been seen driving a recent model Toyota or Mazda sedan with tinted windows and chrome rims. Police said he speaks English and Spanish with a slight lisp.

Perez said the victims often are women who are in their mid-80s and live alone. The thief may tell them that there has been a water leak down the street. Sometimes he will show a badge.

Perez said that once inside the home the thief might tell the victim to help him by tapping the kitchen faucet as he checks the bathroom pipes for contamination. In reality, Perez said, he wants the victim to bang on the pipes so that he will know where she is as he sneaks into her bedroom and steals her belongings.

DWP spokeswoman Gale Harris said this is an old con and advised utility customers to inspect workers’ identification badges closely. Workers also tend to carry a copy of the customer’s bill.

“There is little reason for the DWP to enter a home except for a scheduled appointment at the customer’s request,” Harris said.

A husband-and-wife team was recently arrested in Azusa on charges of conducting a similar scam. They posed as tree trimmers, said Azusa’s Det. Bruce Badoni. As the husband talked with the victim outside, the wife asked to use the bathroom--and allegedly stole from the house.

The suspects are awaiting trial, Badoni said.