New Exclusive Surveillance Video Of Alleged Scam Artist In Northeast Philadelphia
By Elizabeth Hur
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Eyewitness News obtained an exclusive and clearer look at an alleged scam artist in action.
Neighbors say in order to steal money, he made up stories including one about having a child sick with Asthma.
"He said, Hi I'm Brian," Suzanne Cavanaugh recalled of the man caught on her surveillance camera, who she says tried to scam her twice, "And he says I'm your neighbor from across the street."
The man then went onto ask for money to catch a train home in Fairless Hills. Cavanaugh admits she fell for the story in September but not this time, when he returned last Monday.
Cavanaugh said, "I said, wait before you go any further, this happened to me two months ago, and someone asked me for money. What do you want?"
"I think it's very bizarre," Susanna Bruno added.
Bruno says she got a knock on her door Monday night but because of what she read on Mayfair town watch group's Facebook page, she thought twice.
Bruno explained, "I looked out for a second and realized it wasn't someone I knew so I immediately ran back into the kitchen."
Milt Martelack, Mayfair town watch senior advisor noted, "This individual has been moving at a pretty good clip. I mean he's been spotted in Mayfair, Tacony and Holmesburg."
Residents beware: that's the message from town watch leaders sharing another video clip with the community and the police believing the man seen in that video is going from door to door, sharing a sap story and asking for money. The man reportedly leaves when women call for their husbands.
Meanwhile, by sharing her story and video, Cavanaugh hopes her neighbors are more vigilant.
Cavanaugh said, "I actually went outside and that was the wrong thing to do, I won't do it anymore."
Town watch leaders say they have contacted the Philadelphia Police to look into the incidents this as they continue to urge residents to be more watchful and careful.
