An unexpected knock on an 87-year-old Roseville woman’s door Monday led to a ruse that nearly cost her $2,500, authorities say.
She found a stranger on her doorstep, and two more men she didn’t know standing outside a white truck parked in her driveway.
The one in her doorway told her they were in the area from Texas to do work for an asphalt company and hoped to make extra money cleaning siding for homeowners, according to a criminal complaint filed against him Wednesday in Ramsey County District Court.
Hers was in bad shape, he told her, but they could get it cleaned up for $425.
The woman agreed and the men got to work. A short time later, the man appeared at her door again. Some of her siding was loose, he said, but not to worry because they could repair it for $50 plus the cost of materials.
Again, the woman agreed.
More time passed and the man knocked again, this time to tell her she owed them $2,400 for their services. The loose siding had required 30 units of glue to repair, he explained, and no they wouldn’t take a check, only cash.
Without enough to cover the bill, Jones rode with the woman to a U.S. Bank branch inside a Lunds & Byerlys grocery store at Snelling Avenue and County Road C to take out cash.
That’s when Harry Steven Jones’ scam started unraveling, authorities say.
At least that’s the account outlined in the complaint charging Jones with one count of felony-level theft by swindle.
No attorney was listed for him in court records and he could not be reached for comment.
A bank manager who interacted with them at the location thought something seemed amiss when the elderly woman told him she needed $2,500 in cash to pay a man standing next to her who had marks on his face and missing teeth, the complaint said. Suspicious, he called police.
Jones took off running, but police spotted him in his white truck with Texas license plates and arrested him.
He was charged after officers went to the woman’s home and discovered no work had been done on the residence.
Tree material was found in the gutters, for example, as well as dirt on the siding, windows and doors, the complaint said.
Jones has past convictions for exploitation of an elderly person in Texas, as well as three theft convictions, authorities say.
The case serves as a timely reminder to residents to be on the lookout for so-called “home improvement scams” as summer heats up, Roseville Deputy Police Chief Erika Schneider said.
“We see these every summer. … They might be tree trimmers or … (someone offering help) after a storm. … People should really be cautious if they are approached by someone offering an unsolicited service,” Schneider said. “Do your homework before (hiring anyone.)”
She commended the bank manager for stepping in and urged others to do the same when they spot suspicious activity.
“This case would have had a very different outcome if he hadn’t been so vigilant and trusted his gut and called us,” Schneider said.
While there wasn’t enough evidence to charge the other men who accompanied Jones to the woman’s house, Schneider said the case is ongoing and additional charges could be forthcoming.
Police put a post on the neighborhood social media web site Nextdoor to see if others in the area had any interaction with the men. So far police have not received additional reports.
Jones made his first court appearance in Ramsey County District Court on Wednesday afternoon.
The Better Business Bureau has the following tips to avoid home improvement scams:
- Watch out for “red flags.” Don’t agree to cash-only deals, high-pressure sales tactics, high upfront payments, handshake deals without a contract, and on-site inspections. Not all “storm chasers” are con artists, but enough are that homeowners need to be cautious any time a contractor contacts them first. Particularly in the wake of a natural disaster.
- Ask for references and check them out. It’s a red flag if contractors are reluctant to share this information and scammers won’t wait for homeowners to do their homework. If possible, homeowners should get references from past customers, both older references to check on work quality and current ones to ensure current employees can handle the job. Check them out at bbb.org to see other customers’ experiences. Be sure to get a written contract with the price, materials and timeline.
- Understand the law. Work with local businesses that provide proper identification, licensing and insurance. Confirm that a vendor will get related permits. Homeowners should make sure they know who is responsible for what according to their local laws and that a vendor is in compliance.