Fake Gas Works employee sought in East Mount Airy home invasion

EAST MOUNT AIRY (WPVI) -- Police are looking for a suspect who pretended to be a Philadelphia Gas Works employee to gain entrance into an East Mount Airy home.

It happened around 2:21 p.m. on Friday on the 6900 block of Crittenden Street.

The 96-year-old victim told police that a man rang her door. She went to the front door and noticed an unknown white male standing outside, who identified himself as a Philadelphia Gas Works employee.

He showed the victim an identification card that she could not see. And, he was not dressed in a uniform.

The suspect continuously told the victim, there was a gas leak contaminating the water line, and the source needed to be turned off inside her home.

The victim refused to let the suspect in, who began talking on a walkie talkie, threatening to shut off her gas supply.

Police say the victim opened her door slightly to pick up her mail, and the suspect allegedly pushed his way into the home.

He went into her kitchen, and acted like he was checking her water pressure. He then went to her second floor saying he needed to check the bathrooms.

A relative told the victim to call the police, and that's when the suspect fled from her bedroom and the residence.

Police say the victim's diamond ring was stolen from her jewelry box.

The elderly woman was not hurt during the home invasion.

The suspect is described as white male, 35-40 years-of-age, brown hair, close cut beard, 5'8", wearing a dark colored baseball cap with 'COBRA' in white letters, "KING" in white letters on the side and an symbol of a king cobra in the shape of an "S" with a crown on top on the back of his hat, a light blue and white colored striped button down shirt and sunglasses.

Suspect may also have an accent or speech impediment.

Anyone with information on the suspect is asked to call Northwest Detective Division at 215-686-3353/3354.