Man poses as fire marshal, invades home in NE Harris County
Posted: Thursday, December 1, 2011 4:07 pm
By Jennifer Bell | 0 comments
Harris County Fire Marshal’s Office investigators are asking the public for help in finding a man who posed as a fire marshal and invaded the northeast Harris County home of an elderly woman in early November.
The Fire Marshal’s Office and Crime Stoppers have released a sketch and description of the man who allegedly approached an elderly woman on the 12400 block of Swinbrook on Nov. 8 and “talked his way” into her home, Lt. Dean Hensley said.
“He came into her house and walked her around, going through her closets, acting like he was doing an inspection and telling her all the problems she had,” Hensley said. “She started to get suspicious ... when she questioned him, he just left and drove off.”
Hensley said the experience scared the woman and she immediately called relatives, who told her it had been a scam. From there, the woman called the fire marshal’s office, Hensley said.
“He said he was a fire marshal, but he didn’t have any badge, ID, uniform, anything,” Hensley said. “We do home inspections with daycares that are run out of homes, or assisted living facilities ... people can make appointments with us to do inspections, but we normally don’t just show up.”
A CrimeStoppers press release describes the man as a Hispanic male, in his 30s or 40s, between 5 feet, 9 inches and 5 feet, 11 inches tall, with an average build. Hensley said the woman told investigators he was wearing a white dress shirt and dark pants. The woman had no idea where the man was going when he left.
“It’s kind of weird that it happened; you hear about people impersonating police officers all the time. People don’t usually say they’re a fire marshal,” Hensley said.
The man is wanted for impersonating a public servant, a third-degree felony. If convicted, he could face two to 10 years in prison.
Hensley asks anyone who recognizes the man in the sketch or has any tips to call CrimeStoppers at 713-222-TIPS (8477) or go to www. crime-stoppers.org. Tips will remain anonymous, and Crime Stoppers will reward up to $5,000 for information.
Posted: Thursday, December 1, 2011 4:07 pm
By Jennifer Bell | 0 comments
Harris County Fire Marshal’s Office investigators are asking the public for help in finding a man who posed as a fire marshal and invaded the northeast Harris County home of an elderly woman in early November.
The Fire Marshal’s Office and Crime Stoppers have released a sketch and description of the man who allegedly approached an elderly woman on the 12400 block of Swinbrook on Nov. 8 and “talked his way” into her home, Lt. Dean Hensley said.
“He came into her house and walked her around, going through her closets, acting like he was doing an inspection and telling her all the problems she had,” Hensley said. “She started to get suspicious ... when she questioned him, he just left and drove off.”
Hensley said the experience scared the woman and she immediately called relatives, who told her it had been a scam. From there, the woman called the fire marshal’s office, Hensley said.
“He said he was a fire marshal, but he didn’t have any badge, ID, uniform, anything,” Hensley said. “We do home inspections with daycares that are run out of homes, or assisted living facilities ... people can make appointments with us to do inspections, but we normally don’t just show up.”
A CrimeStoppers press release describes the man as a Hispanic male, in his 30s or 40s, between 5 feet, 9 inches and 5 feet, 11 inches tall, with an average build. Hensley said the woman told investigators he was wearing a white dress shirt and dark pants. The woman had no idea where the man was going when he left.
“It’s kind of weird that it happened; you hear about people impersonating police officers all the time. People don’t usually say they’re a fire marshal,” Hensley said.
The man is wanted for impersonating a public servant, a third-degree felony. If convicted, he could face two to 10 years in prison.
Hensley asks anyone who recognizes the man in the sketch or has any tips to call CrimeStoppers at 713-222-TIPS (8477) or go to www. crime-stoppers.org. Tips will remain anonymous, and Crime Stoppers will reward up to $5,000 for information.