Crime & Safety

Tacoma Public Utilities Man Posing As Employee Tried To Force His Way Into Woman's Home

The incident - which occurred in South Tacoma - involved the man saying that he needed to check the water pressure. He wore civilian clothing and a safety vest.

(Just got this from Tacoma Public Utilities, which is reporting an incident Wednesday involving someone posing as a TPU employee)

A Tacoma woman reported Wednesday that a man identifying himself as a Tacoma Public Utilities employee tried to get into her South Tacoma house. He said the utility was working in the area and that he needed to enter to check the water pressure. The man wore civilian clothing and a safety vest, and he carried a clipboard. The woman declined to let him in; he eventually left in an unmarked station wagon.

The man was not a utility employee.

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If someone knocks at the door and claims to be a representative of Tacoma Public Utilities, there’s one way to know for certain: Ask to see the person’s identification badge. All utility employees have a badge with their photo and the utility logo on it.

Utility workers in the field drive vehicles marked with a utility logo and wear clothing with a visible logo. (The logo could be Tacoma Public Utilities, Tacoma Water or Tacoma Power.) Utility employees rarely ask to enter a home; typically, they’re checking a meter or connecting water or power service, which is done outside the home.

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If someone suspicious is at the door, call 911. If the person has left the area, call the Tacoma Police Department’s non-emergency line at (253) 798-4721.


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