Fire Rescue News- MAN POSING AS FIRE INSPECTOR, DEMANDS MONEY FROM LOCAL BUSINESSES
ATLANTIC CITY - Police are investigating multiple thefts by a man posing as a fire inspector who is scamming local restaurants out of money.
Police said a man captured on surveillance camera entered the Popeyes on the 1700 block of Atlantic Avenue posing as a fire inspector.
"He just came here fearless, he just walked in the store like nothing, like....Continue Reading
he knew what he was doing," said Tiffany Miranda, a cashier at Popeyes.
Video captured the suspect inspecting the fire equipment in the restaurant and explaining supposed violations to the staff.
Miranda said the staff had all the information of the company that usually inspects their restaurant when he spoke to the manager on the phone.
"He said I'm Henry from HND, because he usually comes in and they give him the money so he thought it was all right," said Miranda.
Miranda said the man provided detailed descriptions of the violations on a receipt and collected $475 dollars in cash for his services.
The same man is responsible for a similar theft at the Mexican Lindo Restaurant on the 2400 block of Atlantic Avenue according to police.
Employees there said the suspect examined fire equipment in the kitchen, left them with a receipt and collected between $200 and $300 for his work.
"We want to catch this guy right away cause he's hit two businesses in town for nearly $1000 total," said Sgt. Monica McMenamin with the Atlantic City Police Department.
Police are describing the suspect as a white man with dark hair in his 40's with a heavy build.
Now authorities are asking people to be aware of any person who comes into their store or restaurant posing as a fire inspector without proper identification.
"The individuals who do some and do inspections will be in uniform, Atlantic City Fire Department or have some credentials from a fire inspection service," said McMenamin.
Managers at both restaurants said they want the man brought to justice for scamming them out of money.
If you have any information, you can contact the Atlantic City Police Department Criminal Investigations Unit at (609)347-5766, or call anonymously to Crimestoppers at (609) 652-1234.
