PECO, Water Department Imposters Reported In South Philly - DC Breaking Local News Weather Sports FOX 5 WTTG

PECO, Water Department Imposters Reported In South Philly

Four different cases of people falsely claiming to be PECO or water department employees have been reported in one city police district over the past few weeks.

And there are different descriptions for the perpetrators in each instance.

Police in the 3rd District are asking members of the public to check on elderly neighbors and call 911 if you see anything suspicious.

All of the people making the reports were age 65 or older, according to the details released in a flier from Philadelphia police.

The first incident was Nov. 19 at 12:35 p.m. on the 2600 block of Lawrence Street. A woman told police her husband allowed a man claiming to be a water department employee into their house. The suspect was described as being black, 5 feet 8-inches tall and wearing a black hat, a leather jacket and a red shirt.

On Dec. 1, there was an incident on the 1300 block of Titan Street. A male saying he was from PECO knocked on the door and said he needed to check their electric. Nothing was reported taken. The man was described as being white, 35-years-old, 5 feet 8 inches tall and clean-shaven with brown hair. He was accompanied by a 35-year-old, 5-foot-6-inch, heavy-set, white woman wearing a baseball cap.

Four days later, on the 900 block of Cantrell Street, police said someone else claimed to be a PECO employee. This suspect was described as being a clean-shaven 50-year-old white male, around 6 feet tall, weighing 200 pounds, wearing glasses, black clothing and gloves.

And on Monday, police said a woman on Dickinson Street reported three Hispanic males wearing orange reflection vests inside her house after they identified themselves as water department employees. Nothing was taken, but they fled in a black SUV. All three men were described as being about 5 feet 3 inches tall. One was said to be 28-years-old with a medium build, while the second had a thin build and the third had a medium build.

Police urged any residents with information on these four incidents to call South Detectives at 215-686-3013.