Scammers steal wallet from elderly man
BY KATHY CHANG
Staff Writer

WOODBRIDGE - Police are investigating a burglary and theft of approximately $100 of a 76-year-old man at his Blandford Avenue home in Avenel.

The burglary and theft occurred at 2:44 p.m. on Oct. 18, police said.

The victim told police that the suspect rang the front door bell and said that he worked for the state of New Jersey and needed to check the water pressure, the police report said.

The victim described the suspect as a 6-foot white male, unshaven and approximately 40 years old. He wore glasses, a tan jacket and a baseball cap, the police report said.

The victim said he noticed the suspect had some sort of identification hanging on his neck, police said.

The victim allowed the suspect in, and once inside the suspect had the victim turn on the bathroom sink faucet, police said.

The suspect then asked the victim to go down in the basement and turn on the washing machine and the utility sink faucet, police said.

While the victim did what the suspect said, the suspect was talking on what appeared to be a black two-way radio or cell phone, the police report said.

After approximately 10 minutes in the basement with the suspect, the victim told the suspect he had to go to the bathroom, police said.

The victim told police that the suspect blocked his path and stalled him for several minutes, police said.

The suspect then exited the basement and left the residence, police said.

When the victim went back upstairs, he saw that the front door was left wide open and noticed that his bedroom was disturbed, police said.

The victim said his wallet had been removed from his pants, which were lying on the bed, the police report said.

The wallet contained a credit card, approximately $100 in cash, and the man's driver's license, police said.