Robbers pretended to be utility meter readers to get entrance to a Lavallee, Christiansted home Tuesday afternoon, then robbed a family at gunpoint.
Police got the call about the robbery just after 3 p.m. Tuesday. The resident said he was upstairs in his residence with his family when they heard someone knocking on the door.
They open the door and the suspect told the victim that there were looking for the meter. They pointed guns started asking for the safe, money and credit cards among other items.
According to police, the victim said the robbers took cash, drivers licenses, three mobile phones, credit and bank cards, personal documents and a copper brown 4 door 2015 Jeep Wrangler.
The three suspects’ descriptions are as follows:
–Tall, sparse beard, dark, 6’2, slim, hard hat yellow;
— 5’10” slim, blue Jeans face covered;
— a short individual about 5’2″ – 5’4″, slim, blue Jeans.
One had on black Nike mid-cut shoes,with face covered. All had handguns.
A representative from the Police Commissioner’s office reached out to utility company executives to confirm employees and contractor’s identification process.
Water and Power Authority representatives say all their employees and contractors have photo identification which should be displayed to verify the employment of the individual.
Any resident in doubt should demand the “employee” to show his / her identification prior to being admitted to their home or office.
Also all WAPA employees and contractors working in the field move about in vehicles bearing either WAPA’s logo or that of the contractor working on WAPA’s behalf.
VIYA CEO Alvaro Pilar said all VIYA employees and contractors carry identification and all vehicles have the VIYA logo.
The VIPD is alerting the community if any individual or individuals come to your home or office stating they are representing a utility company and unable to provide positive identification to please call 911.
