Bogus SDG&E Worker Involved in Home Burglary, One of Several Recent Cases

La Mesa police on Thursday said people posing as San Diego Gas & Electric Co. or “City Inspector’s Office” workers are burglarizing local homes.

Police Lt. Matt Nicholass says one incident occurred about 3 p.m. Feb. 16, when a resident in the 5800 block of Kappa Drive was contacted by someone claiming he was an SDG&E worker and needed to examine the electrical breaker box. 

“While the victim was distracted with the alleged SDG&E worker, another subject(s) burglarized the residence,” Nicholass said. 

About 7 p.m. Tuesday, “a subject contacted a resident in the 5900 block of Cowles Mountain Boulevard and claimed he was from the ‘City Inspector’s Office’ and that there was a gas leak in the yard. The subject kept the resident distracted while another subject(s) burglarized the residence,” Nicholass said.

The fraudulent service worker in the Kappa Drive case was described as a white male adult, 5 foot 3 inches, 150 pounds, with a  ponytail to the middle of his back, and spoke Spanish.  He was wearing a brown jacket, khaki pants, and had an earpiece in his ear with a wire down the back of his shirt. 

The worker in the burglary on Cowles Mountain Boulevard was described as a white or Hispanic man in his late 20s, 5 foot 10 inches, 160 pounds and thin. 

“He was wearing a hat with “City Inspector” written on the front, beige plaid long sleeved shirt, and a name badge around his neck.  He was carrying a clipboard.  A white ‘boxy SUV’ was seen in the area at the time of the burglary,” Nicholass said. 

Police say residents should always ask to verify the identity of a service worker by asking to see their employee photo identification card. 

Burglaries have not been reported in Santee, but because nearby neighborhoods have been hit, residents should be on alert.

If a resident is still uncertain the subject is an employee, they can call the appropriate agency to verify their purpose and identity. 

The following numbers are available as a reference:

(619-258-4100), (619-448-3111), SDG&E (800-411-7343)  and AT&T (800-288-2020).