NewsLocal News

Actions

Man posing as satellite employee stealing from homes

Man posing as satellite employee stealing from homes
Posted
and last updated

LESLIE, Mich. — A man posing as a satellite company worker to get into your home may be ripping you off instead.

Victim after victim is reaching out to Fox 47 to warn others that this shady worker is still out there and could make you his next target.

"We’ve never had to lock our doors. And now we have to lock everything up...and that's alien to us, because we've never had to do that," said Karen Stanley, whose home was robbed.

The Stanleys aren’t the only family bolting up their homes, after letting someone in who said he was there to fix their cable.

The man claimed he worked for the Digital Success Network in Mason.

"They’re all saying the same thing...that things are missing. Sentimental things, like rings and money," said Amber Wyman, the Billing Manager at DSN.

In the next few days, the Stanleys said they'd lost Karen’s rings, $200 in coins, and their generator.

"The rings he stole will never be replaced," said Karen's husband Daryl. "The thought that went with them will never be replaced. We were married 40 years before I bought those rings..."

"They were special," said Karen.

DSN tells Fox 47 that they have an idea of who might be stealing their customers' things. They've been given enough information to know that person used to work here.

"They brought in a card, they made out these checks, he's charging them whatever he can for service, and then he's going through their house," said DSN Owner Bruce Ware.

"That’s why I didn't think anything of it...because he'd been in the house the year before," said Stanley.

The man was fired for unrelated reasons not long after installing the Stanleys' cable.

DSN is warning their customers not to let anyone in.

"We’ve been doing this for 20 years," said Ware. "Our service calls are customers calling here. We don't go out actively to your home. We would never have anyone go to your house without a scheduled appointment."

Karen says she’s angry and feels violated, but she's happy it didn't end up worse.

"I let this strange man in this house. He could have killed me, could have done a lot more damage than he did. He took material things. He didn't take my life, so I’m good with that."

The Ingham County Sheriff's Office is investigating the case, but said they can't confirm the identity of the man responsible.

Police want to remind you to never let anyone in your home if you're not expecting them.

Always ask for identification, and if there is ever a doubt, don't let them in or call 9-1-1 right away.

Stay in touch with us anytime, anywhere.

Download our free app for Apple and Android

and

Sign up for newsletters emailed to your inbox.

Select from these options: Breaking News, Severe Weather, School Closings, Daily Headlines and Daily Forecasts.

Follow us on Twitter

Like us on Facebook