Police Warn of Door-to-Door Scam Artists

Scam artists are going door to door in parts of Anne Arundel County, say police, with cash reported stolen and one suspect caught trying to open a safe.

Anne Arundel County police urge residents to warn their elderly relatives about men coming to their homes claiming that they were hired to do follow-ups on home repairs.

The first incident reported happened Jan. 16 in Linthicum, where a man asked the victim if he remembered him as his father had replaced the victim’s roof. By coincidence, the house’s roof had been recently replaced.

The suspect, who carried a face mask and spray can, told the homeowner he was there to do some follow-up work. He said he needed to spray sealant in the master bedroom to fix some cracks. The victim was told to remain in the living room and the suspect went into the bedroom and closed the door.

After the suspect came out he told the victim not to enter the area for 45 minutes and left to get equipment from his truck. He instead got into the truck and drove off. The victim went to his bedroom and realized $400 was missing from his wallet.

The suspect is described as a white man, between 160 and 170 pounds, about 5’7”-5’9” tall.

Police say the second reported encounter happened Jan. 17 when an elderly man answered the door to a man who claimed he was there to check his roof as part of the warranty process. The suspect told the victim he had to leave for 30 minutes because of fumes that would be in the master bedroom. After five minutes the victim went to the bedroom and found the suspect trying to pry open his safe, police say.

The suspect in the second case is described as a white man about 55 years old, 5’6”, heavyset, and wearing jeans and a black leather jacket.

Anyone who has had a similar experience is urged to contact the Northern District Detective Unit at (410) 222-6135.

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