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Imposters posing as appraiser, utility workers target Phoenix neighborhood

Posted at 6:51 PM, Jun 12, 2018
and last updated 2018-06-13 00:54:28-04

Police are warning residents to stay vigilant as a series of imposters appear to be targeting a Phoenix neighborhood.

One resident who thinks she was fooled is Kacia Huddleston, who sees a lot of people coming and going from her home as she undergoes renovations.

"That's how she got in in the first place, I thought my husband forgot to tell me someone's coming over," said Huddleston explained.

Last Wednesday, as construction workers bustled inside Huddleston's home near 22nd Street and Glendale Avenue, a woman came to her door claiming to be an appraiser for the bank. 

RELATED: Phoenix police warn of new burglary scam

Huddleston said the woman told her she was there to take pictures, and had arranged the time with Kacia's husband, Bryan.   

"She knew my husband's name, and as I was in the midst of texting my husband to see if she was supposed to be here, she walked right in," said Huddleston.

Stunned, she said, without really any permission, the woman started taking photos with her camera. 

Footage from Huddleston's surveillance camera also showed the woman look into Huddleston's mail box before approaching the home.

"The whole time that I'm asking her questions, she never stopped taking pictures, she was moving fast through my house," said Huddleston.

Huddleston eventually reached her husband, who told her he had no idea who the woman was. 

"I asked her to leave at that point, and she kept taking pictures while she was walking out of my house," said Huddleston. "I kept asking for ID, and what bank she worked for, but she didn't even look at me and ran out to her car and took off."

She says what makes this more disturbing, is just last month, two men posing as utility workers robbed her neighbor's home

In that instance, one of the men lured the victim to her backyard where a power line was, while another entered her home.

"I thought at that point she was casing the house, that's all I can imagine because of the other break-in," said Huddleston.

So what do you do if you suspect someone?

"Ask them for ID, ask them, 'Hey, let me see a business card,'" said Phoenix police Sgt. Mercedes Fortune.

Phoenix police calls the trend troublesome, but not new. They say the internet plays a big part in crooks convincing their victims to trust them. 

Using personal information found online, like names of family members, friends, places you go or even bank.

"What we share is what people will use against you if that's what they're up to," said Fortune.

"This woman really had me fooled," said Huddleston.

Phoenix police are asking for the public's assistance in identifying the woman from this case. If you have any information, you're asked to contact them immediately at 602-262-6151.

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