A 79-year-old Fort Lee NJ woman says that she lost cash, her credit card, and precious jewelry to a con man posing as a water company worker.

According to the victim’s son, a 40-something man came to the victim’s house on 14th Street in Fort Lee, NJ and told her that he needed to check the water. The thief then had the woman run the bath, turn on the water in her kitchen sink, and open a faucet downstairs.

Shortly after she ran the water in the house, the crook told her that everything was okay; he then left the house.

Later, the woman went to the grocery store. It was then that she realized that she was missing her money and her credit card.

Although the woman gave police a complete description of the thief, authorities say that there is little chance of recovering her valuables.

Fort Lee police have cautioned people in the area to guard against these kinds of “diversion” thefts, where a thief diverts the victim’s attention in order gain access to money and valuables.

In this case, if the suspect is apprehended, he could face severe penalties.

In New Jersey, burglary is addressed by N.J.S.A. 2C:18-2. Prosecutors typically charge burglary as a third degree felony. In this case, if the con man posing as a utility worker is caught and later convicted, he could be sentenced to up to five (5) years in New Jersey State Prison.

To learn more about this incident, read the NJ.com article entitled “Con Man Posing as Water Company Worker Cleans Out 79-Year-Old Fort Lee Widow.“