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Police: Elderly woman targeted by scam in Grand Haven

Posted at 5:24 PM, Jul 23, 2014
and last updated 2014-07-23 19:52:30-04

GRAND HAVEN, Mich. -- Police said an 87-year-old woman living on the 900 block of Waverly Avenue was the target of scam, Tuesday afternoon.

Grand Haven residents FOX 17 spoke with wanted to remain anonymous out of fear for a few fraudulent men on the loose.

"Whoever it was came to our house a few weeks ago. So there are people lurking around that shouldn't be," a concerned neighbor said.

Residents describe the area as a safe and typically quiet neighborhood.

However, that peace was disturbed around 4 p.m. on Tuesday in broad daylight, when an 87-year-old woman answered her door.

"She was approached at her house by a man who was requesting a bucket of hot water. He was posing as a contractor or utility worker, stating he was working on asphalt in the street," Jeff Hawke, the director of Grand Haven Public Safety said.

Once the phony utility worker had her attention, Hawke said two other men entered the woman's home and stole some of her belongings.

"So we have three suspects,” Hawke said.

He added that the men range in age from 30 to 60 years old.

It’s a broad description. However, the victim noticed the men's vehicle had an out-of-state license plate, possibly Wyoming.

Police said the suspects drove a newer white four door sedan.

It’s a sharp observation by an innocent woman who'd just been victimized.

Hawke said, "We're always very concerned about our seniors.”

“We just want to remind everybody, never let an unidentified person into your house, always check for identification and utility workers wear uniform and carry credentials," Hawke added.

If you have any information, give the Grand Haven Department of Public Safety or call Silent Observer at 1-877-88-SILENT.