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The resident told police that two men, one later identified as Jack Clarke, quoted him $14,500 to repoint his basement on Saturday, Jan. 14, Arlington Police Chief Julie Flaherty reports.
When the men started their work, they allegedly destroyed part of the foundation and convinced the homeowner that it would cost $68,000 to fix it.
The victim wrote multiple checks for a portion of the total amount that were later cashed by Clarke, Flaherty said. The suspects also gave the homeowner what appeared to be a business contract to give the impression that they worked for a legitimate company.
Clarke was ultimately arrested when he went back to the home for some tools and other materials on Tuesday, Flaherty said. Further investigation revealed that Clarke was also driving without a license.
He was charged with the following:
- Malicious Destruction of Property, More Than $1,200
- Larceny by False Pretenses, Over $1,200
- Conspiracy
- Unlicensed Operation of a Motor Vehicle
This comes after three men where also charged for fabricating another home improvement scam that targeted an elderly Arlington resident. Chief Flaherty is encouraging residents to be aware of these types of scams and to report a suspicious activity to authorities.
"Individuals carrying out this type of scam often go door-to-door," Chief Flaherty said. "We encourage residents to be wary of anyone going door-to-door offering services, and to be cautious of who they let into their home or begin work on their property without verifying the company first."
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