Area residents told to be alert to false water dept. workers
By jennifer dome
Staff Writer
Several local police departments have reported suspicious incidents known as "flim-flams" during the past week.
Flim-flam incidents were reported in Sayreville, South River, East Brunswick and Milltown, all on July 30. Although police officers believe the incidents may be related, there has not been definitive evidence to make that conclusion, authorities said.
In Sayreville, a resident of Ernston Road reported that an unknown Hispanic male, approximately 50 years old, 5 feet tall and 165 pounds, and wearing a blue work shirt and pants, came to the resident’s door at 11:30 a.m. The man identified himself as a water department employee and asked the resident if he could check the basement to find the source of a leaky pipe in the road. While in the basement, he asked the resident to turn the water faucets on and off while he searched for the leak. The resident soon realized that the suspect had left the basement and that he may have been a fraud. Nothing appeared to be missing from the home, and the resident notified police of the suspicious incident.
Another incident took place in the borough the same day at about 1:15 p.m. on Main Street. According to police reports, an unknown man again identified himself to a resident as a water department employee. The suspect, whose appearance was not described, may have tried to distract the resident by having her tap on the pipes in the basement while he searched for a leak. The resident reportedly heard footsteps upstairs and asked the suspect how long she had to tap on the pipes, to which he replied that she should continue, reports said. Soon, the resident found that the suspect had left and, while nothing appeared to be missing, several rooms in the home appeared to have been entered, according to police.
Also on July 30, the South River Police Department received a report of a suspicious incident similar in nature to the Sayreville incidents.
At about 11:30 a.m., a man described as having dark skin and wearing blue work pants and a light-colored shirt came to a residence on Herman Street. The man said he was working with the water department and that he needed to check the resident’s pipes, reports said. The resident refused to allow the man inside her home and called the police. A witness later told police that a shiny black van was seen in the area prior to the incident.
In East Brunswick, a resident apparently thwarted a suspect’s attempt to get inside her home at about 2 p.m. that same day.
A dark-haired male, about 5 feet 5 inches in height and wearing dark pants and a long-sleeved blue shirt, came to a resident’s home on Ryders Lane and presented a laminated identification card. He told the resident that he was from the water company and had to check a break in the line on the victim’s property.
The man went with the resident to the back yard, where he showed her depressions in the ground that he claimed were from water damage. Although the suspect then went into the basement, allegedly to check the water meter, the victim became suspicious and questioned the man. He soon left on foot in the direction of Peach Orchard Drive, police said.
According to reports, the suspect communicated with someone on a cell phone while in the yard.
The Milltown Police Department confirmed that a similar incident occurred at the home of a resident on July 30 as well, though they could not provide further details, police said.
Earlier in July, police reported that a resident of South River was the victim of a flim-flam. The George Street resident was approached by a man who said he worked for the water company. The resident allowed him inside the home to check for leaks. After the suspect left, the resident found approximately $3,300 missing from bedroom drawers.
The area police departments warned residents that flim-flam incidents, in which people pretending to be workers in the water, sewer, electrical and home repair fields seek out potential victims, tend to occur at this time of year. According to officers with the Sayreville Police Department, senior citizens are often sought out by these suspects as potential victims.
Residents are advised that, if they are approached at home by unscheduled contractors or people who identify themselves as municipal or utility workers who appear suspicious, they should not let them into their homes and instead should call the police.