BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KBAK/KBFX) A married couple in Oildale is warning neighbors to stay alert after someone broke into their truck twice in the span of several hours, including a return visit in what appeared to be a PG&E vest.
Ring camera footage shows the suspect breaking into the couple’s truck around midnight on Aug. 1 and then leaving.
About six hours later, what appears to be the same suspect is seen walking back to the truck with another person.
Ring video shows suspect returning to Oildale truck burglary wearing apparent PG&E vest (KBAK/KBFX)
The suspect is then seen searching through the truck again, this time while wearing what appears to be a PG&E vest.
The video also shows the suspect moving to the front of the house and appearing to try to ring the doorbell before leaving again.
Chuck Sears, the burglary victim, said he was away on vacation at the time and called a neighbor when he saw what was happening.
“But I called my neighbor and said it looks like someone is in my truck can you run out there. I have a good neighbor, so he ran out there. Startled them. They took off and ran. They hopped in the car that was waiting,” Sears said.
Sears said the clothing stood out to him and raised concerns about how easily someone could be deceived.
“He was really trying to set somebody to walk outside. I worry really about older folks because they’re going to walk up to these doors, they’re going to see somebody with a PG&E jacket and they’re going to think it’s an official visit,” he said.
Ring video shows suspect returning to Oildale truck burglary wearing apparent PG&E vest (KBAK/KBFX)
Sears also said a friend had a similar experience involving people wearing what looked like delivery uniforms.
“He had people show up at his shop wearing Amazon vests like a week or two prior to that. So, they’re out there doing it, and we see quite a few people walking around the neighborhood wearing deceptive outfits,” Sears said.
In a statement, PG&E said, “PG&E employees always carry picture identification and are always willing to share it upon request, and that customers can call our customer service line to verify if an individual purporting to be from PG&E is at their home on official company business.”
Ring video shows suspect returning to Oildale truck burglary wearing apparent PG&E vest (KBAK/KBFX)
Another utility company, SoCal Gas, announced this month that it is updating uniforms to help customers identify workers.