Police in Arvada are warning residents to be wary of scam door-to-door home repair services, in light of the recent severe weather and resulting property damage.
“With the warmer temperatures also coming, people are wanting to do home repairs,” said Sergeant Baros of the Arvada Police. “We want our neighbors to remember to be vigilant about anyone who comes to their home.”
These criminal companies tend to target the elderly by offering services such as roofing, painting, and broken tree removal.
A typical warning sign is the request for up-front payment, the police department said in a statement. In return, these criminals may never perform the services for which they are paid, or perform substandard work.
They may also use the opportunity to case a home for future break-ins as well as crimes of opportunity, grabbing anything valuable and easy to conceal.
While this is a national crime trend, Arvada has seen an increase in these types of “swindle” crimes over the past five years or so.
Those in Arvada who suspect their neighborhood is being cased are urged to call the police non-emergency number at 720-898-6900.
