From: Joe Clarke <[email protected]>
Subject: [UCNeighbors] Fwd: {48th Street Neighbors} HUSTLERS on
Baltimore Ave!
Thought I'd cross post this recent activity (Wednesday). Tis the
Season for thieving, as well.
-
--------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Mara Hincher <[email protected]>
Date: Wed, Dec 17, 2014 at 4:15 PM
Subject: {48th Street Neighbors} HUSTLERS on Baltimore Ave!
To: [email protected]
A little while ago, between 3:15 and 3:30, a elderly neighbor
stopped me to tell me someone had just tried to hustle her right of
the north corner of Baltimore Ave and 49th Street. I got her to give
me the details, even though she was still very agitated about it.
While I was talking with her, a man she knew came up to say hello to
her and we found out from him that the hustlers had tried the same
trick on another woman in front of Greensgrow on the 4900 block of
Baltimore Ave less than a week ago. He said it sounded like exactly
the same hustle.
Two men:
One tall, wearing a suit, who claims to have just gotten here from
Africa today, and has what she felt was a faked African accent
(because the longer he talked, trying to get her to agree, he kept
losing the accent).
The other, short and thin, no accent, probably also American.
Neither man was wearing a winter coat.
The first man approached her with the story about having just
arrived from Africa, and could she help him. He claimed to have just
given someone $300 to help him with something, and kept messing with
his pockets as if he was going to pull out some money. He said he
would give her $300 if she would help him, and go with him. The
second man approached during this, and made no attempt to fake an
accent, but also tried to convince her to help. They wanted her to
go to their car, or to go across the street to the deli on the
opposite corner, or both. She seemed to think the car was parked up
on Baltimore Ave. She offered that they go get help at the church
next to the garage there off the corner of 49th & Baltimore Ave, or
over to Hickman, but they declined.
When they made no progress with her, they crossed south on 49th and
Baltmore and went east on Baltimore Ave towards 48th Street. She is
unsure if both of them went the same way, or if one of them
disappeared up 49th going south, because they had her so flustered.
The old woman's friend seemed to think this was the same story as a
woman he knew had reported to him, and that it seemed to involve a
potential bait and switch or a holding of money in her case. He
seemed to indicate that she wasn't taken in either, but was equally
upset.
I spoke with this neighbor and got her name, and approximate
address, and told her I'd get it out on the local groups as soon as
I could.
