By JAMES MITCHELL
Sunday Times Newspapers
TRENTON — Police are looking for a robber who, posing as a city employee, stole up to $20,000 worth of jewelry from a 77-year-old woman.
According to Trenton Police, the suspect — believed to be working with an accomplice— knocked on the door of a house in the 3500 block of Marian Drive at about 2 p.m. Monday. The light skinned Hispanic man, about 30 years old, was wearing a blue shirt with stripes, blue pants and a white hard hat.
Initially, the man said he had to check the water pipes. The woman said she did not want to let the man in her house.
“He then radioed someone else,” according to the police report, “who said that if she did not let him in, her water would be turned off for 48 hours.”
The woman relented, and let the man in the basement where he put on gloves, turned faucets on and off and touched various pipes. They were in the basement for about 30 minutes before the suspect said he needed to get a pipe from his truck.
While waiting, the woman noticed her bedroom was disturbed with drawers opened.
She discovered the theft of an assortment of rings and other jewelry, believed to be worth $15,000 to $20,000. A detailed report of the missing items was to be provided.
The suspect is described as medium height, about 160 pounds and with a goatee.
The woman did not see a vehicle outside after discovering the jewelry was missing.
Trenton Police are asking anyone with information on the crime to contact the department at (734) 676-3737.
(James Mitchell can be reached at [email protected])