Crime & Safety
Deaborn Police: Beware of Men Posing as Water Employees
An elderly Dearborn homeowner was robbed after two men make entry into resident's home by demanding a water bill be paid.
Dearborn police are looking for two men who tricked a Dearborn homeowner out of an undisclosed amount of money after they posed as “water board” employees.
According to police reports, the incident occurred at 3:30 pm on Oct. 17 on the 7500 block of Anthony Street. The men told the 89-year-old homeowner that they needed to check her water inside her home.
Lt. Dennis Topolski of the Dearborn Police Department said he fears the scam might be the second perpetrated by the suspects.
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“We heard from Detroit and we think that this may have also happened in Detroit, in Warrendale,” he said. “The descriptions (of the men) match the ones in our case. It’s an age-old scam—once they were able to get in there, they found out where she kept her money.”
Once they were inside the home, the men told the woman she needed to pay her water bill. The homeowner proceeded to open a safe to pay the men, and once the men saw the safe, one of the men took a large amount of money from the safe.
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The men fled the home in a 2011 or 2012 white Ford Edge.
Police said the suspects are described as Arabic males with dark black hair. They are about 28 to 35 years old; one was wearing a bright hooded jacket or sweatshirt.
Dearborn Police Chief Ron Haddad said elderly residents have been vulnerable to this scam before.
“The communities support is needed to assist in watching over our elderly residents,” he said. “Residents are also reminded not to allow strangers into their homes and to contact the police regarding anyone they feel is suspicious in the neighborhood.”
He also said one way that residents can protect themselves is by learning how to recognize city, or utility, employees.
“Utility companies do not go to resident’s homes and collect cash payments,” Haddad said. “Residents should contact the police immediately if someone comes to your home requesting cash payments. All utility company employees should have proper identification."
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Dearborn Police Tip line at 313-943-3012.
