HOUSTON – Police are searching from a man who is suspected posing as a utility company employee and stealing from several elderly Houstonians.
Terrance M. Perrilloux, 31, has been charged with theft.
Houston police said Perrilloux has been going door to door, telling elderly people that he works for Potentia Energy and is offering to sell energy reduction contracts.
Perrilloux is talking his way inside homes and then distracting the homeowner by asking for water or documentation, police said. When the homeowner leaves the room, Perrilloux steals items, detectives said.
Chrilla White, 86, said she was one of Perrilloux's targets. She said she didn't buy the service, but Perrilloux asked for a drink of water, so she went to get him a bottle out of her refrigerator. She said that Perrilloux was standing in an odd place when she closed the refrigerator, but she didn't realize she had become a crime victim until a few days later.
"I can't believe that that guy walked in here and took all my identification," she said.
White said about $1,000 was withdrawn from her checking account with her bank card a few days after it was stolen.
Investigators said the most recent reported incident occurred on July 24 in the 8100 block of Redfern near Bellfort in south Houston.
Detectives said Perrilloux got into an 84-year-old woman's home and stole some of her possessions.
Police said they believe Perrilloux is targeting elderly people in the north and southeast areas of Houston.
"My concern is that there are other elderly victims out," Officer Marcella Johnson said.
Anyone with information regarding Perrilloux's whereabouts, or possible other cases, is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS.