Police say two men posing as tree trimmers forced entry into a couple’s backyard in Phoenix earlier this month.
According to police, the suspects arrived at an elderly couple’s home near Myrtle Avenue near Black Canyon Highway around 5 p.m. on October 6.
The men claimed they needed to trim the trees from the power lines, police report, and entered the homeowner’s backyard after they refused.
Richard and Linda Norman said the men showed up two weeks ago. They told the Normans' they needed to trim the trees away from some powerlines in the backyard.
The two men gave 10-year-old Creasin Hilliker a creepy feeling.
“When they pulled up in the driveway I didn't know whose car that was,” said Creasin, who was visiting his great grandparent's house with his little brother on the day of the incident.
Home surveillance video shows the two men scoping out the backyard and garage. One is wearing a polo shirt and a hat. The other man is in an open button-down shirt with a white tank underneath. Before long, the two are bullying their way past grandma Linda.
“They stepped one foot inside after my grandma asked for identification,” said Creasin.
Creasin had seen enough and headed for the phone. He dialed 9-1-1 to report the bogus tree trimmers as his grandparents were trying to get them to leave the yard.
“I heard a scream and it was my grandpa’s scream and so I knew that something was really wrong,” said Creasin.
He was right.
Richard said the two men pushed him to the ground as they made their escape. He scraped his elbow as he fell.
“When they were driving away, I heard. 'We will be back,’" said Creasin.
Meanwhile, Creasin’s little brother was also helping. He was out in front of the house trying to signal police as they responded to the 9-1-1 call.
“He was standing out in the street with his hands waving up over his head to get the cops to come here,” said Richard.
The two suspects escaped and Phoenix police are still looking for them. They are warning other homeowners in the area that any tree trimmers who randomly show up to offer service are likely scammers.
The first suspect is described as a 25- to 30-year-old white male, 6 feet tall, 170 pounds, with balding black hair and a chin-strap beard.
The second suspect is a white male in his mid-to-late 40s, 5 feet 9 inches tall, 155 pounds, with dark graying hair and a dark mustache.
The two are believed to be driving a Grey Chevy Silverado single cab work truck.
Anyone with information should contact Phoenix police are Silent Witness at 480-WITNESS.
