Tuesday, August 16, 2005
AUSTINTOWN -- A 90-year-old Frederick Street woman was duped out of about $1,800 by a man and a woman posing as employees of the electric company.
About 5 p.m. Aug. 11, the woman's electricity went out. Within a few minutes, an unknown woman approached the residence wearing what the victim described as looking like an Ohio Edison uniform, with blue shorts and shirt. She was described as a white woman, 5 feet 3 inches tall in her 30s with dark brown hair.
The woman told the victim that she needed a new electric meter. After a few minutes of discussion, an unknown male entered the home. He was described as a medium-build, white man with long brown hair.
He told the victim that he needed to check the breaker box in the basement and proceeded into the basement.
The two suspects told the lady that she needed a new breaker box, a new electric meter and 12 new outlets in the home, with a cost of $1,840 for the repairs.
When the check was cashed and no one showed up for the repairs, the victim called police.
The victim's electric company could not be reached to comment.