Deputies are on the search for two men who tried breaking into a home at gunpoint while posing as Sacramento Municipal Utility District employees.
On Jan. 23, two men were captured on surveillance video impersonating SMUD workers at a home along El Sur Way in the Arden area. The Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office said the men told a woman they were investigating a gas leak. When they got into her gated yard, one of the men held the woman at gunpoint and threatened to kill her if she did not let them inside. The woman managed to push the man away from her, and the sheriff’s office said the two drove off.
SMUD spokesperson Lindsay VanLaningham told KCRA 3 the company will usually contact customers by phone or put a notice on their door to let them know employees will come to their house.
“It’s extremely rare for them to just show up and knock at your door,” VanLaningham said.
VanLaningham added that when the workers arrive, they should be easy to spot, driving a SMUD truck with its logo visible. They should also be wearing logoed gear.
Each SMUD worker has a badge with their picture and employee number on it, and VanLaningham said there is a way to make sure they are who they say they are.
“What we recommend for customers to do if they’re leery is to ask for the employee badge, ask for their employee number and call SMUD directly. We are always happy to verify that our crews are on site. We can do it fairly quickly,” VanLaningham said.
That number is 1-888-742-SMUD.
Lisa Caretto lives near where the attempted armed robbery happened in Arden.
“For somebody to impersonate a SMUD person or some other company that we trust is rather shocking,” Lisa said.
Anyone with any information about the attempted armed robbery is asked to call the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office.
