Gutter-cleaning scam costs Austintown man $185

AUSTINTOWN — A man had $185 taken from him by a man who asked to use his home phone.

Township police were called to Timberbrook Drive after a 77-year-old male reported the theft.

The resident told police a man knocked on his door and said he could clean the man's gutters for $40. The resident then allowed the man inside to use his home phone, which he used to call someone several times, a police report said.

The resident and the man then began to leave but then he asked used the phone an additional time. The man was in the home alone for three minutes when he allegedly stole $185 out of an envelope of cash on the kitchen table.

A neighbor said the same man also offered to clean his gutters for $40 but that resident declined.