Crime & Safety

SDG&E Warns Customers of Imposter Involved in Home Burglary

In some parts of the county, people are posing as service workers to target homes.

People posing as San Diego Gas & Electric Co. or “City Inspector’s Office” workers are burglarizing homes in some parts of the county, according to La Mesa police. 

Police Lt. Matt Nicholass says one incident occurred about 3 p.m. Feb. 16, when a resident in the 5800 block of Kappa Drive in LaMesa was contacted by someone claiming he was an SDG&E worker and needed to examine the electrical breaker box.  

“While the victim was distracted with the alleged SDG&E worker, another subject(s) burglarized the residence,” Nicholass said. 

On Friday, SDG&E added its own warning—“alerting customers to be aware of a person or persons who have recently posed as a SDG&E employee and asked to enter a customer’s home.”

In a press release (attached), the utility said:  “It has been reported that the imposter will distract unsuspecting customers while performing ‘routine inspections,’ while another imposter burglarizes the home.”

It was unclear how many incidents involved an SDG&E imposter.

“SDG&E wants to assure all customers that all SDG&E employees carry the proper identification when called out to any job and is warning customers to ensure they verify the employee’s proper uniform and identification before letting anyone in your home,” the utility said.

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About 7 p.m. Tuesday,  “a subject contacted a resident in the 5900 block of Cowles Mountain Boulevard and claimed he was from the ‘City Inspector’s Office’ and that there was a gas leak in the yard. The subject kept the resident distracted while another subject(s) burglarized the residence,” Nicholass said.

The fraudulent service worker in the Kappa Drive case was described as a white male adult, 5 foot 3 inches, 150 pounds, with a  ponytail to the middle of his back, and spoke Spanish. He was wearing a brown jacket, khaki pants, and had an earpiece in his ear with a wire down the back of his shirt.  

The worker in the burglary on Cowles Mountain Boulevard was described as a white or Hispanic man in his late 20s, 5 foot 10 inches, 160 pounds and thin.  

“He was wearing a hat with “City Inspector” written on the front, beige plaid long sleeved shirt, and a name badge around his neck.  He was carrying a clipboard.  A white ‘boxy SUV’ was seen in the area at the time of the burglary,” Nicholass said.  

Police say residents should always ask to verify the identity of a service worker by asking to see their employee photo identification card.  

If a resident is still uncertain the subject is an employee, they can call the appropriate agency to verify their purpose and identity. 

Patch is attempting to find out if there have been related incidents in any other parts of the county, including La Jolla, and will keep you posted. 

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