Two San Diego homes were burglarized Monday as their owners were distracted by a man claiming to be a city pest control worker.
The victims say a man wearing a blue shirt with a city of San Diego emblem and the name “Bill” on it knocked on their doors and said he worked in pest control.
One of the victims, who wished only to be identified as George, told NBC7 the suspect was very convincing and seemed official.
“He was a pretty young guy, really charming, seemed like he knew what he was doing,” said George.
He said at the suspect requested he show him the backyard of his University City home to help measure for raccoon and possum traps.
While the suspect and victim walked to the back, another person got into the home and burglarized it. George said his cash and jewelry were taken.
“I never thought I could get burglarized while in my own house,” he told NBC 7.
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Just a few hours earlier, Yen Vuong’s husband and father of two had a similar experience at their Clairemont house.
Vuong said she was not home at the time, but her husband described the suspect as looking official and insistent.
“If I had a gun, I would have shot him right away,” said Vuong.
As the suspect played out the same ploy, his accomplice ransacked the Vuongs’ bedroom, taking more than $2,000. The family had a break-in some time ago, after which they put steel bars on their windows and doors. Unfortunately, those did not protect them against this scheme.
The man who posed as a city worker is between 25 and 35 years old, standing between 5-foot-8-inches and 5-foot-11-inches and weighing between 210 and 225 pounds.
