The Herald-News - News Story

    Dayton Police are concerned a team of scam artists/thieves may be working the Rhea County area.
    A man and woman, both in their mid-20s, approached an elderly Dayton woman Friday afternoon. They told her they would install vinyl flooring in her kitchen for a very low price and asked to come in to show her a sample, according to Dayton Police Chief Chris Sneed.
    The woman, who lives alone, said she doesn't remember asking the young woman inside, but when she went back to the kitchen the young woman, who has blond hair, followed her inside. A moment later the young man appeared, holding up a large piece of vinyl flooring that completely blocked the arched doorway between the kitchen and the dining room.
    The young people then began a sales spiel about the quality of the flooring and the low price they would sell it for. When the woman explained she already had good flooring and didn�t intend to buy any, the couple rolled up the flooring and left the house in a hurry.
Later, when the woman prepared to go shopping, she found that about $450 was missing from her purse that was lying on the dining room table. She also found that the bottle containing her prescription pain pills was missing from the kitchen table, she said.
    She now believes that while the man held up the vinyl blocking her view of both the dining room and the front door, an accomplice slipped through the front door and into her dining room to steal the money.
    "I'm a little embarrassed about it all," the woman said Tuesday. "I've always trusted people and never thought anything of locking my doors, that's how she was able to follow me right in. I just want to warn others so they don�t fall for their scheme."
    Sneed said it was important for anyone who has been approached in a similar manner to immediately contact local law enforcement. He said the information would be greatly appreciated and would be kept confidential.
    "We want to encourage local residents to not let strangers into their homes; it's just not a good idea," Sneed said. "If someone approaches you like this, call the police before you let them into your home. We'd be happy to send an officer by to check them out, and if they are a reputable contractor, they won't mind a bit."
    Sneed said reputable contractors don't typically go door-to-door any longer selling flooring, repair work, roofing, asphalt or concrete. And if legitimate door-to-door salesmen come to town, they stop by the Dayton Municipal Building to buy a permit and then let the police department know they will be working in the area.
    Local residents should always ask to see identification and the individual's permit from the city before letting them into their homes, Sneed said.
    John Carpenter can be contacted at john.carpenter@rheaheraldnews.com