Sarasota Police Warn Residents About Suspicious Unknown Workers

SARASOTA, FLA. – Sarasota Police are warning local residents to be cautious after a homeowner encountered two men who said they were there to do home improvement work for a neighbor and ended up walking into the person’s house uninvited.

The incident happened in the 300 block of West Royal Flamingo Drive about 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday when police said one of the men attempted to distract the homeowner under the guise of being there to do work, which is a commonly used practice, police said Thursday.

The homeowner told police that a man wearing a baseball cap, mask, white long-sleeved shirt and carrying a walkie-talkie knocked on his door. The man said that he was there to measure a neighbor’s fence as part of an improvement project. The homeowner walked out of the home and following the person to the back of the house, police said. The man was speaking into his walkie-talkie as he walked along the side of the home, the homeowner told police.

Less than two minutes later, a second man wearing a floppy hat, a mask, sunglasses, and gloves, walked up to the front door, knocked, and then walked into the home through the unlocked front door, police said. He was met by the homeowner’s wife and turned around and left and said the men had to leave immediately for another job. Both men left in a white Chevy Tahoe with an Uber sign.

Police said that neither man was wearing a uniform suggesting that they worked for a specific company. Nothing was reported from the home. The homeowner told police that he spoke with his neighbor who was out of town and was told that his neighbor was not having any work done on his fence, police said.

Sarasota Police officers suggest the following crime prevention tips to protect you, your family, and your personal belongings if you are expecting home improvement workers to come to your home.

• Make sure workers have proper identification and are driving a marked vehicle.
• If there is no reason for a worker to come into your home, do not let them in.
• Always secure and lock all doors and windows, even when you’re home.

Anyone with information on this case is asked to call Sergeant Charlie Riffe at 941-263-6089 or leave an anonymous tip with Crime Stoppers by calling 941-366-TIPS or online at www.sarasotacrimestoppers.com.