The Collier County Sheriff’s Office cautions residents to be
wary of cold callers and door-to-door solicitors offering roofing services.
The warning comes after several residents contacted CCSO
this week to report receiving a phone call from someone claiming to be a
representative of Florida Roofing Solutions Inc. and offering roofing services.
The caller offered a free roof inspection due to wind storms
that swept the area in mid-January. The caller asked to meet at the resident’s
home for an estimate. The caller was anxious to know what time of day the resident
would be at home and away from home.
Detectives say Florida Roofing Solutions is a legitimate
business based in Hialeah. A Feb. 4 post on the company’s Facebook page says
Florida Roofing has received calls from people in the Central Florida area
asking about free inspections. The company says it does not perform residential
work outside the South Florida area and nor does it provide free inspections or
cold call potential customers.
On Thursday, an 88-year-old East Naples woman reported that a
man she did not know knocked on her front door and told her she needed work
done to her roof. The man then took her to the back of her home to show her the
work that needed to be done.
While the victim was out back, someone made entry through
her front door and stole jewelry, detectives said.
CCSO warns residents receiving a call or getting an
unscheduled visit from a roofing company to use caution before accepting their
service.
The CCSO Crime Prevention Bureau offers these safety tips:
* Be suspicious of workers who arrive unannounced.
* Never allow a stranger to come into your house.
* Don’t be rushed into emergency repairs. Discuss the
problem with a relative, trusted friend or a reputable business by getting a
second estimate and confirming the problem.
* Do not provide deposits for work before work is started.
* Do not pay for the service until all work is complete and correct.
* Ask for identification and call the company. When calling,
have the employee wait outside of your residence and use a number from the
phone book and not a number given to you by the worker.
* Always notify CCSO if persons are going from door to door
trying to sell you a service or a product, even if they appear to be
legitimate. Let deputies confirm their occupational license or the validity of
their company. Remember, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
Anyone worried about a suspicious stranger should call 911
immediately with a description of the individual. Don’t put off calling.
Deputies need to know what is happening on your street right away.
