Phony City Workers Stealing From Garden Grove Homes

GARDEN GROVE (CBS) — Police are warning residents about a gang of phony Garden Grove water department employees who tell elderly homeowners they need their homes' pipes tested, then steal cash and jewelry.

Garden Grove police detectives say residents should demand identification, look for marked city trucks and call police if they are approached by workers claiming to represent the city water utility.

Gang Posing As Garden Grove Utility Workers Stealing Cash, Jewelry: KNX 1070's Bill Cooper reports.

Since last summer, the gang has used two men to steal cash and jewelry from homes by having one of them distract the residents by bringing them outside, while the others ransack the home.

The gang dresses in uniforms bearing name tags or are dressed in plain clothes. On all occasions, the men have produced some type of fraudulent City of Garden Grove identification.

One of the men was described as a 5 foot-3 inch tall heavy set Hispanic man weighing 150 pounds with dark hair and touches of gray. He was last seen wearing gray pants, a gray shirt with unknown name stitched on it, police said.

Police stress Garden Grove city employees will have city vehicles that are clearly designated as "Garden Grove" and employee uniforms are usually orange shirts with navy blue pants.

Garden Grove police detectives say anyone with information regarding the suspects can call (714) 741-5830.

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