[StBernard] Police Say Con Man Defrauding Local Businesses

[Westley Annis]

Police Say Con Man Defrauding Local Businesses
St. Bernard Parish Businesses Duped By 'Old-Fashioned' Con Man
POSTED: 4:16 pm CDT June 20, 2009
UPDATED: 4:20 pm CDT June 20, 2009


CHALMETTE, La. -- The St. Bernard Parish Sheriff's Office asked the public
to help identify an old-fashioned "con man'' who has been defrauding
businesses in the Paris Road area in Chalmette and in Meraux, on and off
since March.

The unidentified man walked away with money after cheating a store clerk out
of change for a $50 bill and has also stolen money from a store clerk
without her noticing, Chief Deputy Sheriff James Pohlmann said.

Anyone with information about the identity of the man is asked to call the
Sheriff's Office at 504-271-2501. The man involved is wanted for both simple
robbery and theft.

In one case the man, described as being in his mid-40s to early 50s, cheated
one store clerk out of $70 and stole $50 from another. He has been turned
away at several stores in Chalmette but has succeeded at others, Pohlmann
said.

A store surveillance tape at one business on Paris Road showed the man
defrauding a store clerk in March, police said. He put up a big bill to buy
an inexpensive item and then when receiving his change he told the clerk
that he realized he has a smaller bill and took that out, continuing to move
money around on the counter until the store clerk was confused and the "con
man'' left with both his money and the store's, Pohlmann said.

A store surveillance video from May 18 at a store showed the same man
starting to try the same trick, but in that instance he was able to steal
back the large bill that he put down when the store clerk was distracted and
also received change for his large bill.

In two store tapes, police said the con man appeared to be working with
another man who helped distract the clerk at the register.

"This type of con man has been around for a long time and still occasionally
manages to defraud businesses,'' Pohlmann said. "It's something businesses
always have to be on the lookout for. Anyone who recognizes the man should
call the sheriff's office."