Police are warning of an alleged roof scam reported in Toronto in April and have arrested an 18-year-old.
Police said the main incident occurred on April 25 at Eglinton Avenue East and Bayview Avenue.
Three people reportedly approached a homeowner in the area, claiming to be working on the roof of a neighboring home. They said they saw damage on their roof and offered to inspect it, police said.
Toronto Police said the homeowner agreed and let the men onto their roof. The homeowner received an offer of $18,500 – and posted a $9,000 deposit. The homeowner was reportedly told repairs could begin the next day.
Then the next day, police said that “an unsuspecting crew of subcontractors” had arrived to work on the roof. The man who made the bid the day before asked for $3,000 in supplies.
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But by the time the homeowner returned with the money, the man was gone, police said. He called the homeowner and reportedly demanded that the cash be used to pay the subcontractors.
Police said the homeowner became suspicious.
Three days later, on April 28, three men were in the same area — Eglinton Avenue East and Bayview Avenue, police said.
Witnesses who saw the trio thought they were in the area for the same alleged scam, police said.
“Police arrived and found two men on a homeowner’s property, an unsuspecting contractor and a man matching the description of the previous incident,” police said in a statement.
The men fled the scene and were arrested after a chase.
Police said the men worked for a company called CO Roofings & Masonry and subcontractors were not paid.
An 18-year-old was charged with $5,000 in fraud and $5,000 in mischief – criminal damage to property.
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