Resolution 130288

..Title Authorizing the Committee on Public Safety to hold public hearings to investigate and review the impersonation of City utility workers in the commission of burglaries and other crimes against elderly victims and other Philadelphians. ..Body WHEREAS, The Philadelphia Police Department issued a "Crime Alert" a year ago in response to a series of crimes by suspects impersonating utility workers. The first such crime occurred on April 5, 2012 at 1pm in South Philadelphia when a man knocked on the victim's door, identified himself as a PECO worker, and stated he was looking for faulty outlets. The suspect was allowed in the residence and left without incident; and WHEREAS, Two days later, on April 7, 2012, a different male went to the same residence and stated he was there to fix the faulty outlets that his coworker previously found. After the utility impersonator left the residence, the victim noticed jewelry and checks missing from a bedroom in the residence; and WHEREAS, Also on April 5, 2012 at 2pm, a man and woman who each identified themselves as City workers, stated that they needed to check the residence for faulty outlets. Once allowed entry into the home, the suspects stole $1,000 in cash; and WHEREAS, Since the original Crime Alert was issued, a number of similar crimes by suspects impersonating PECO workers and Philadelphia Water Department field staff have been committed against citizens, especially elderly persons in their 70's and 80's; and WHEREAS, The policies regarding utility service that require utility worker to gain access inside a residence and the process by which citizens can verify utility worker identification must be examined in order to insure public safety and to protect senior citizens; now, therefore, RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That the Committee of Public Safety is hereby authorized to hold public hearings to investigate and review the issue of impersonation of City utility workers in the commission of burglaries and other crimes against elderly victims and other Philadelphians. ..End