This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Crime & Safety

PG&E Impostors Scam Bay Area Residents

People pretending to be utility workers stole items from multiple Bay Area homes.

Written by PG&E:

Last week, there were two cases of thieves dressing up as utility workers to gain access to Bay Area homes. 

In each case, a person dressed as a utility worker gained access to the customer’s backyard, while a second person entered the home and stole money, coins and/or jewelry. 

Thankfully, nobody was injured in either case. Investigations are ongoing, and PG&E is working in full cooperation with local law enforcement. In addition to reaching out to you, PG&E is reaching out to local media to educate our customers.  

Here is some important information you should know: 

PG&E customers should always ask to see valid identification before allowing anyone claiming to be a PG&E representative inside their home. PG&E employees always carry their identification and are always willing to show it to you. 

If a person claiming to be a PG&E employee has identification and someone still feels uncomfortable, they should call PG&E’s customer service line at 1-800-PGE-5000 to verify an appointment and/or PG&E’s presence in the community. 

Customers who have an appointment with PG&E will receive an automated call back within 48 hours prior to a scheduled visit, or they will receive a personal call from a PG&E gas service representative prior to a scheduled visit. 

Finally, customers with concerns about the legitimacy of a call they receive about a past due bill, a service request or a request for personal information are encouraged to call PG&E at 1-800-PGE-5000.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?

To request removal of your name from an arrest report, submit these required items to arrestreports@patch.com.