Police: Criminal Gypsies, Travelers an Issue During Summer Months

The McHenry County Sheriff’s Office is reminding residents of the common home repair scams that tend to occur during summer months.  

“Self Proclaimed Criminal Travelers” and “Self Proclaimed Criminal Gypsies” are the two common groups that carry out scams in our area, according to the news release. 

"Proactive education and awareness of yourself and those you care for help prevent becoming a victim," according to a McHenry County Sheriff's Office press release. 

Both groups commonly will knock at your door, say that they were driving by and noticed that your driveway or roof needs work.  One person will commonly go to the door and distract the victim, according to the news release. 

While at the front door they may ask for more money, water, something inside the residence or distract the victim to come outside.  Once the victim is distracted, co-offenders will go into the residence and search for valuables or U.S. currency.  
Frequently this group targets residents who are elderly or live alone.

“Self Proclaimed Criminal Travelers” are groups of people who scam through paving, rough repairs, barn painting and lightening rod installations.  “Self Proclaimed Criminal Travelers” usually drive impeccably clean pickup trucks with out of state plates, including the state of Wisconsin.  

Vehicles may have magnet signs attached with their company information with an out of state area code or 800 telephone number.  Victims often describe the suspects as Caucasian or Irish. 

Victims also may enter into written contracts with the travelers and are promised life-time warranties.

“Self Proclaimed Criminal Gypsy” cons usually include seal coating, rough repairs, and replacement.  Criminal Gypsies also use pickup trucks with seal coating equipment in the back. 

One price is often given at the estimate time, and when the job is complete you are told that you owe more money because they used more material than expected.  Frequently the service is not professional in appearance and deteriorates over a short period of time or washes away.  

“Self Proclaimed Criminal Gypsies” often are described as Romanian, Yugoslavian, or may be described as Hispanic, and speak the English language with a heavy foreign accent.

Some suggestions to help protect yourself include: 

• Do not have unsolicited work done on your residence.  
• Implement the 1-2-3 rule if someone wants to do work at your residence that was not solicited by you: Wait one day to speak to family members, wait a second day to speak to friends and neighbors about it and wait a third day to see if they come back to push you to get the work performed. “During the three-day “waiting” period, contact a local reputable company to obtain a price comparison.  
• Another rule to live by, if the deal sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
• Finally, if you have any questions or concerns, contact your local police or sheriff’s office immediately to obtain further assistance.