Criminals using utility outfits to try and get away with theft
There’s been an uptick in thieves dressing up as utility workers or city crews working in neighborhoods all to fool you into thinking they’re trustworthy.
The most recent in Pueblo when a man dressed up in a safety vest and stole a vehicle, in turn dragging the owner, later killing him.
Sargeant Frank Ortega with the Pueblo Police Department said after the incident, “our suspect is a light-skinned or white male, skinny, wearing like a traffic control vest and a hat. Like utilities possibly. We don’t know.
In El Paso County, deputies are facing the same issues.
Jacqueline Kirby with the Sheriff’s Department says, “the biggest thing is not going by the uniform. We have people who impersonate utility workers, we have people who impersonate law enforcement officers.”
A recent video caught on a Ring doorbell camera shows a man dressed in an orange vest, knocking on the door and then trying to pry it open, unknowingly being watched the whole time.
The homeowner is heard saying, “get away from the door.”
The suspect and his watchman are seen leaving in a hurry.
KRDO found out, it’s not hard to find a disguise if someone wants to pull of the same crime.
A quick search on Amazon found safety vests, or what one seller called an “Authentic Cop Costume,” was easily found.
Kirby explained the uniform isn’t enough to solidify someone’s identity.
“Always verify, always trust your gut. You can always reschedule. You can always deny someone coming in until you know the person is who they are they are,” she says.
Another easy way to determine if someone is legitimate is asking for their employer-issued photo I.D. Most companies require them, and someone who isn’t who they say they are might push back when asked about it.
