Police: Watch Out for Fraudster Claiming City Must Demolish Your House

Officials said he's hit three locations in the last week.

Shutterstock.com

Shutterstock.com

A man posing as a city inspector has falsely informed residents in three separate locations that their properties were scheduled for demolition, police said Friday.

The suspect, described as a 5-foot-7, middle-aged African-American man, allegedly visited the 2500 block of N. Colorado Street, the 2400 block of W. Cumberland Street, and the 2400 block of W. Sergeant Street throughout the last week. Police said the man was wearing a reflective vest, a yellow hard hat and a partial goatee, and was seen in a dark green Volvo station wagon with a Pennsylvania license plate.  

The city’s Licenses & Inspections department said inspectors always provide proper ID and wear clothing showing the department’s name and logo. If someone purporting to be a city official comes to your residence, you can always request identification.

If this man approaches you, officials are asking that you contact 9-1-1. You can also call L&I at 215-686-2400 to confirm that the city (or a private party) plans to demolish your property

Follow @bretttklein on Twitter.