T&D Staff Report

Police are warning the public of the potential for home improvement scams.

"We've received information that individuals in paving and home improvement scams may be in the area," Capt. Mike Adams said. "We urge people to be cautious about having these people over to do these types of jobs."

Adams said the scams usually involve house painting, roofing, vinyl siding installation, and driveway paving and repaving.

Police say that should you be approached by a salesman or a contractor's crew you should ask for a business license number. Make sure that license number is from a local contractor.

"Don't be afraid to check up with it," Adams said. "Be sure of what you're dealing with, be sure of what you're getting, and be sure of the contractor."

Adams said that no reports have been made as of Friday. But police wanted to warn area residents of the possibility.

The scams involve offering what appears to be a low price for these services only to have either a low quality job done, or in some cases, no work done at all. County residents in years past have reported to authorities the driveway paving service has been little more than a paint job that comes off in heavy rain.

But in each case, the money is paid up front. If you do contract for home improvement, pay only after the job is done and after you are satisfied with the work.

"If you have any suspicions, call law enforcement and we'll be glad to come out," Adams said.

The ODPS can be reached at 803-534-2812.

Investigators are seeking an Orangeburg youth after another youth was robbed at his home late Thursday.

The victim, 15, said he was at his home around 10:30 p.m. when he heard a vehicle pull up outside. When he walked outside to investigate, he discovered two males, one he knew and one he didn't.

As he was talking with the subject he knew, the second subject, a 17-year-old Orangeburg youth, ran at him and struck him in the face several times. The victim blacked out after being knocked to the ground. When he came to, he realized that someone had gone into his pockets and taken $500 he had on him.

The acquaintance told investigators that after the subject attacked the youth, he drove the attacker to a nearby business where he dropped him off. He said he did tell the subject to give the money back to the victim.

Investigators noted in the report they would seek legal action against the parties involved.

The victim suffered a cut and swollen lip in the altercation.

In other reports:

* A Carrollton, Ga. man told deputies Thursday he's missing a quantity of tools after a break-in at his Neeses property.

The man said that around 7 a.m. Thursday he discovered someone had forced their way into a storage facility. Inside, the man said a machine similar to a forklift was missing. It was later found in a nearby field.

But several hand tools, including a DeWalt circular saw, a DeWalt combination saw, a Milwaukee band saw and sawzall, and a pair of drills, were still missing.

The tools are estimated to be worth about $3,000.

* Wal-Mart staff called Tuesday to report another shoplifting attempt.

The staff said that a trio of females entered the business and legitimately purchased a plastic storage container. Then they stuffed an identical container full of items. As they walked to the exit door, they discarded the container they paid for.

But at the door, they were stopped and asked for a receipt. They dropped the container and ran out of the business.

Employees found stuffed in the container $979 worth of items.

* A Holly Hill man reported tools stolen from his property Thursday.

The man said that around noon he discovered radiators missing from four vehicles on his property, a pair of toolboxes and at least 40 DVD movies bringing his loss to $1,140.

* EMS reported a suspicious incident that happened at the Neeses station late Thursday.

Personnel at the station said that around 11:30 p.m. they heard a loud banging on the door. When they looked out of the window, they saw three or four males and a female running back to two cars parked on the property. The group then entered the cars and sped away.

The EMS workers called dispatch to see if an emergency had been reported. None had.

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