Residents of a house in Whittier had a close call this weekend when three men posing as gas company workers tried to enter their home, and officials urged the public Sunday to be vigilant when anyone presents themselves as a utility worker.
The incident happened around 7 p.m. Friday in the 8100 hundred block of Bradwell Avenue, parallel to the San Gabriel River (605) Freeway and just south of Washington Boulevard, according to ABC7.
Three young males, one wearing an orange vest, said they needed to check the home’s meters. The residents did not let them in and the men started to leave, but rushed back when people from inside the house came out to check on them.
A porch camera shows one of the suspects pulling a gun from his waistband.
The men did not gain entry, and all three suspects fled the scene.
“We encourage customers to be vigilant and question anyone who presents themselves as a representative of SoCalGas,” the utility said in a statement released Sunday. “Most of the time SoCalGas visits your home in response to a service request. If no one scheduled an appointment, call us (at the number indicated below) before allowing anyone inside your home.
“All SoCalGas employees on company business are required to carry a SoCalGas photo ID badge,” the statement continued. “The majority of our authorized employees will always be in a uniform with our company logo, carry an official employee badge, and drive a company car or truck.
“SoCalGas workers who perform in-home appliance services, work on gas meters or work on gas pipelines wear uniforms. However, some employees do not. Always ask for identification before letting someone inside your home.
“To verify the authenticity of anyone claiming to be a representative of SoCalGas, ask for proper identification or call headquarters at 1-800-427-2200 (or 1-800-342-4545 in Spanish).”