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Police Issue Warning About Fake Utility Worker Theft

FINEVIEW (KDKA) - Police are investigating after a man took advantage of the trusting nature of an elderly woman in Fineview.

The man conned his way into the woman's Lafayette Avenue home by pretending to be with the water company and then robbed her.

"How stupid. I'm a stupid old lady," the victim, named Kay, said.

Kay can't believe she fell for a man posing to be a utility worker for the water department. He knocked on her door just before 11:30 a.m. Thursday and she let him in.

"Why I answered the door, why I.. and I didn't feel good," Kay said.

She says he presented a badge. But, he didn't have any work clothes on. Then, he immediately put the almost 90-year-old woman to work.

"He looks really busy, you know. Then, he comes up and hands me a claw digger and handed it to me and said, 'You take this and tap on the faucet. Keep tapping on that.' He sounded legit, you know," Kay said.

He went upstairs. After about five minutes, Kay said she felt like something was off. She went to the room where he was supposed to be and he was gone. But her safe, was broken into.

"I had $1,600 in an envelope on the door of the safe. That was gone. My wedding ring, my engagement ring, my husband's wedding ring," Kay said.

He also took her high school class ring and a ring her mother gave her before she died, a ring with an antique setting worth over $6,000.

Officials with the Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority offer some tips to make sure this doesn't happen to others

"A PWSA plumber will never enter a home without an appointment. A customer makes an appointment and in addition, receives a phone call when a plumber is on the way," Melissa Rubin with the PWSA said.

A worker that's legit will show a badge if you ask him to and they'll wear company clothing and have a marked car.

The robber is a white man who was wearing gloves, is approximately 35-45 years old, 5-feet-6-inches tall, has a medium beard and a grayish scruffy beard.

"To me, everybody is a crook," Kay said.

If you notice someone suspicious in your neighborhood or they make you feel uncomfortable, police urge you to call 911 immediately.

The PWSA also suggests calling their dispatch center if you aren't sure about someone claiming to be a worker.

Their number is (412)-255-2423 and they answer calls 24/7.

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