Mounties are warning business operators in both Langley and Surrey to be on the look out for a man pretending to be a municipal employee, who they believe is stealing employees’ belongings.
The warning was issued today [Tuesday, March 21] by Surrey RCMP, as well as by a Langley restaurant manager, Sabrina Counsell.
“This guy came into my restaurant [March 19], Earls Langley, saying he was the worker who needed to work on our water system (that’s the long story kept short),” said Counsell, who is the night manager of the Langley Earls at 64th Avenue and 200th Street.
“He was left alone for a matter of minutes and he ended up getting away with cash, phones, iPads etc.,” she elaborated in her warning on Facebook.
“He ended up going to the Earls in Guildford right after and did the exact same thing to them,” she said, asking people to share her post “so we can get this guy.”
Late Tuesday afternoon, Surrey police joined in the call to action, releasing pictures of the suspect, who identified himself as “Kevin,” and gained access under the pretext of checking the water pressure at businesses.
RCMP are aware of three separate reports in Surrey and one in Langley, said Cpl. Scotty Schumann.
At some of the businesses the man was allowed in and subsequently found rummaging through employees’ belongings in staff rooms while claiming to be searching for leaks, the corporal explained.
“On some occasions, unsuspecting employees left the man unescorted to wander about the businesses unchecked. It wasn’t until employees reviewed surveillance video in their workplaces that they realized that they had been duped by the man,” Schumann added.
“The Surrey RCMP is hoping someone knows or recognizes this man and calls us immediately.”
Police noted that City of Surrey employees all carry photo identification, do not conduct checks at private businesses, and do not make it a practice to show up without an appointment, “unannounced at a business.” It’s believed the same likely applies for City and Township of Langley employees.
After Counsell learned the man had run the same scam and suspected thefts in several other Lower Mainland restaurants, she put out a further plea: “Industry workers stick together and get this message out.”
Her post has since been shared through Brookswood Crime Watch, as a way to reach out to and alert more Langley businesses.
The imposter is described as 5 ft. 5 in. tall man with darker skin. He did not have an accent.
Mounties say he may also be associated to a blue Honda Civic.
Anyone with more information is asked to contact the Surrey RCMP at 604-599-0502, the Langley RCMP at 604-532-3200. Or, to remain anonymous, they can call at 1-800-222-8477(TIPS) or www.solvecrime.ca.
Officers ask that people quote Surrey RCMP file #2017-36418.
