Phony Phone User

On March 26, an elderly woman living on Brockton Street in El Cajon allowed a stranger into her home and became the victim of a robbery.

According to a Neighborhood Watch block captain, the perpetrator managed to gain entry into the home by telling the victim she was stranded in the area and needed to use a telephone. The victim then left the female criminal — described as a heavyset African American in her 40s — alone to make the telephone call. Upon returning to the room, the elderly woman found that the criminal had left and her purse was missing.

During a neighborhood discussion, it was discovered that another elderly person had fallen prey to a similar ploy in San Carlos, just east of El Cajon. San Diego police, who handled the San Carlos case, say that at least three other similar incidents have recently been reported.