NEW CASTLE Union township officials warn about scam artists

NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- Union Township supervisors are warning residents, especially the elderly, about a scam in which strangers come to the door saying they want to inspect property lines or tree lines.
Supervisors said at their meeting Wednesday that while the homeowner goes outside, an accomplice robs the house. They said one such attempted robbery was thwarted by a resident last fall. But another township home was robbed recently using a similar ploy.
Supervisors Steve Galizia and Kenneth Guinaugh said this method of operation has been reported in other areas too. Anyone who gets such a visitor should call 911 immediately.
Also Wednesday, Galizia announced that the township fire department's annual Balloon Quest will start July 17 and continue that weekend.
Supervisors said they are still waiting for the county to approve new township road names so that house numbers can officially be assigned. Union Township is eliminating rural delivery box numbers that have been used as addresses, in favor of street numbers. The change, going on throughout the county, is part of the 911 identification system.
Supervisors announced that Wal-Mart has donated $1,500 to the Union Township Police Department. The money will be used for portable radios, a new drug identification kit and stopwatches.