Pool Liner Installer Charged With Home Repair Fraud

PALOS HEIGHTS — A Chicago contractor is accused of defrauding a Palos Heights resident on a home repair job. Christopher Baker, 29, is charged with felony home repair fraud.

On May 6, police said Baker entered into a contract to replace a pool liner. The resident paid Baker $1,600. Baker deposited the check but didn’t bother to complete the work, police said.

During their investigation, Palos Heights police learned that Baker had prior arrests for home repair fraud. Baker was accused of collecting a deposit to do repairs to an in-ground pool at a house in Riverside in 2019, but then never showed up to do the work. Baker also has a pending armed robbery case from 2019 out of Evergreen Park, according to a Patch news report.

Through their investigation, detectives were eventually able to track Baker’s whereabouts, police said. A judge issued a warrant for Baker’s arrest. Investigators told Baker that they wanted to talk to him. Baker was taken into custody Dec. 11 when he showed up at the Palos Heights police station, police said.

Baker was arraigned on Dec. 21 and released for an upcoming court appearance.