The Coronado Police Department is warning residents of two people who robbed a home after posing as utility pole technicians.
An 86-year-old woman opened the front door of her Alameda Boulvevard home on Tuesday, March 3 for a man who claimed to be a utility pole technician. He asked the woman if he could go through her home to the back yard to check the lines on a utility pole. He told the woman he had a female supervisor who would be assisting, according to Coronado PD.
While woman inside the home did not allow the man inside, she directed him to a side gate where she said they could meet.
At the gate, a woman introduced herself as the supervisor and told the victim her partner went down the street to check the other line of the utility pole. The woman then distracted the resident with casual conversation all while talking into a hand held radio or phone, Coronado PD said.
The next day, the victim noticed several pieces of jewelry missing from her dining room and bedroom.
The male suspect is described to be short, 21 to 25 years old, with no facial hair.
His partner is described as a short, 25 to 30 years old woman with a clear complexion. They were last seen in a white car.
Although the suspects never said they were from San Diego Gas and Electric, police said they used professional terms that implied they were professional utility pole technicians. The suspects repeatedly asked the woman if she was alone, according to police.
If you have any doubts someone is posing as a SDG&E technician, the company offers these tips:
- Make sure the person in question is wearing a SDG&E uniform.
- Ask them to show you an SDG&E company identification card, especially if you didn't request service or was not expecting a visit from a technician.
- Make sure they arrived in a SDG&E company vehicle.
- Never leave the house if asked; SDG&E doesn't ask customers to leave homes unattended.
While the company does often hires contractors to conduct smart meter work, those contractors will never ask customers to leave their home, SDG&E said.
If you suspect an imposter, you can call SDG&E at 1-800-411-7343 to see if there is work currently being done in your area. If you believe the person is acting suspicious, you're asked to call the Coronado Police Department at (619) 522-7350.
