Suspicious Men Going Door-to-Door In Cleveland Heights

CLEVELAND HEIGHTS, OH — A new scam may have arrived in Cleveland Heights. Police are asking residents to be weary of gas and electric officials arriving at their home without prior notification.

Police said, suspicious men have been visiting houses, telling residents they are from either a gas or electric company. The men were not in uniforms, instead wearing hooded sweatshirts, and had no identification badges with them.

In one incident, the men said they were there to check on the resident's gas meter. The Illuminating Company does not visit a home without prior notification, police noted.

"As reminder, employees of gas and electric companies through which you get your service, are required to be in uniform and will have company-issued identification badges on them at all times. They also will not randomly stop by to do a "meter check," Cleveland Heights Police said on Facebook.

In the other incident, the men wanted to see the resident's electric and gas bill, to see if they could save them money.

Police said at least one of the incidents could be part of a scam. If the men were with a legitimate company, they would have to acquire a permit from the city. No such permit has been issued, police noted.

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The men from the second incident, police said, were in their late 20s, both about 5 feet 8 inches tall, with curly hair or dreadlocks, and a broken front tooth.

If someone comes to your door, or you see someone behaving suspiciously while going door-to-door, contact police at 216-321-1234. Police would like to identify these men.

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