Crime & Safety

Fake Utility Worker Steals $6,500 in Jewelry From Woman

The incident, which occurred in Seminole Heights, was reported to the Tampa Police Department.

A man posing as a utility worker allegedly robbed a Seminole Heights woman of thousands in jewelry while at her home, according to a report from the Tampa Police Department.

Here's what happened:

Around 12:30 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 8, the woman was at her home on Mohawk Avenue when she heard a knock on the door. When she opened it, a man told her he was from a utility company, but didn't say which one. He told her he needed to check her backyard to run new cable there, so the woman escorted him through her house, leaving the door unlocked, to the backyard.

The woman talked to her about running the cable, and soon left. After he left, the woman went to her bedroom and noticed the drawers to her dressers were ransacked, and that her jewelry was missing. The jewelry was valued at $6,500.

The woman, who only speaks Spanish, waited to call police, fearing no one would understand her.

Her son called police after she told him what happened.

If you have information on this case, call (813) 231-6130.


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