The Sunnyvale Sun

News

Fake city worker lifts money from elderly woman

By JASON GOLDMAN-HALL

The city of Sunnyvale is working to make sure residents can clearly identify city employees after a man posing as a city employee entered an 84-year-old woman's home on July 24 and stole $60 from her purse.

The woman told the Department of Public Safety that a man who said his name was Anthony showed her a laminated 4-by-6-inch card that read "City of Sunnyvale Employee."

He told her he was there to check for water contamination, and after sending her outside to control the main water shut-off, he took $60 from her purse, told her he had to leave to get paperwork and never returned.

Department of Public Safety Lt. Marty Dale said the crime was similar to one in Campbell where three men pretended to be city employees to enter a home.

Dale said the most important thing in this case is to make sure any residents who meet with Sunnyvale employees are sure of who they are talking to.

Department of Public Works employees wear bright orange work shirts with yellow and blue Sunnyvale logos and name patches.

"The uniforms really couldn't be much brighter," said deputy communications officer Adam Levermore-Rich.

Legitimate workers typically drive marked city vehicles, and all must carry photo identification cards--specially issued by the city--at all times.

Anyone who has concerns should call DPS at 408.730.7110 or 911.

Suspect description

Police describe the man as a clean-shaven Latino in his early 30s, between 5 feet 5 inches and 5 feet 9 inches tall with medium-length brown hair.