Thief poses as National Grid worker, steals jewelry, cops say
A man posing as a National Grid worker asked to check a Herricks home for a gas leak Friday and made off with a woman's jewelry, Nassau County police said Sunday.
Police said a man wearing a yellow work vest and construction hat knocked on the door of a Pine Street home at 12:40 p.m., telling the 79-year-old woman who answered the door that he was from National Grid.
The man told the victim that there was a gas explosion in the area and he had to check the victim's home for a gas leak, police said.
The man then told the woman to turn on the faucet in the kitchen while he went alone to a bathroom near the master bedroom, police said.
Police said the man stayed in the home for about 20 minutes. After he left, the woman found that gold jewelry was missing from her jewelry box, according to police.
Wendy Ladd, spokeswoman for National Grid, said the company was aware of the incident, and said that legitimate National Grid workers wear photo identification around their necks. Also, most workers who work on gas meters drive National Grid trucks.
Police said anyone with information could contact Nassau County Crime Stoppers at 800-244-TIPS.
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