COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO. -- Colorado Springs police are searching for two men driving a grey or silver pick-up truck who are breaking into homes, claiming to be utilities workers.
The first suspect is described as a white male, 40 - 50 years old, approximately five-foot-eight inches tall, with a medium to heavy build, and brown hair. The second suspect is described as a white male, 30 years old, about 5 foot 11 inches, with a thin build, black hair, and crooked teeth.
One of their victims, Audrey Lanosga, said she was foolish to not know what was happening when a stranger appeared at her home on Clemson Drive Saturday.
"I was kinda foggy, I had just taken a nap, but I opened the door and I didn't have the storm door locked," she explained, "So he was right there in my face."
The man on her porch said he was down the street fixing a water line, and needed to check her water pressure. She said he walked inside and went straight to the kitchen sink. Then, he asked where her bathroom was located. She walked him to the bathroom, instead of directing him and allowing him to walk through her house unattended.
"So I sat on the tub and turned the water on, and he said watch if any green comes," Lanosga recalled, "and he turned the water on in the sink."
He told her it was all clear, and walked back to the living room where he handed her a 100 dollar bill. She looked at him, puzzled as to why a utility worker would give her cash. She said the man told her she was getting 40 dollars for her time.
She explained, "I said I didn't have change, so he took [the money] back and he said, okay we'll mail it to you."
Odd as it may have been, everything else seemed routine. So she didn't question him until he left, and she noticed he was going to meet another man outside.
"It finally occured to me I hadn't asked I.D. or anything. So I said, 'Where did you say you were from?'"
She said the second man responded that they were working on the street behind her.
"Well then I knew something was wrong, cause the other fellow said they were working down the hill," she explained.
When she asked neighbors, they said they didn't get a visit from any workers. That's when she called police.
Turns out another elderly woman on Hercules Drive off Cresta Road had a man force his way into her home to "check her water pressure" after she said he wasn't welcome.
Colorado Springs Utilities confirmed they didn't have employees in either area Saturday.
They said their workers will always have badges with their name and photo, and will be happy to wait outside while the customer confirms they're supposed to be there.
If you're curious about a worker in your area, you can call CSU Dispatch at 448-4800.
If you see any suspicious activity or know anything about the suspects call police at 444-7000.
TV Station Profiles & Public Inspection Files forKXRM