Police are warning businesses about a man posing as a municipal worker and stealing employees' belongings.
The suspect made the rounds at Langley restaurants, including the Langley Earls on Sunday, March 19.
According to the night manager at Earls, the man had a name tag on his shirt that read Kevin, and he said he was a municipal worker needing to look at the water lines.
He was left alone for a couple minutes and managed to make off with cash, cellphones and an iPad from employees.
It's believed he then went to the Earls in Guildford and did the same thing.
There are reports he also made the rounds at other Langley restaurants along 200 Street.
Surrey RCMP put out the warning on Tuesday about the impostor, including posting images of the suspect caught on the restaurant's video surveillance cameras.
Surrey Mounties were alerted to three separate reports of a man posing as a municipal employee and asking to check the water pressure at local businesses, mainly restaurants in the Guildford area.
At some of the businesses, the man was allowed in and was subsequently found rummaging through employees’ belongings in staff rooms while claiming to be searching for leaks.
On some occasions, unsuspecting employees left the man unescorted to wander about the businesses unchecked, said Surrey RCMP Cpl. Scotty Schumann.
It wasn’t until employees reviewed surveillance video in their workplaces that they realized that they had been duped by the man, who may have identified himself as “Kevin”.
The suspect is described as 5’5” tall with darker skin (see photos). He did not have an accent. He may also be associated to a blue Honda Civic. Surrey RCMP General Duty officers are continuing to investigate and have released surveillance pictures of the man.
“The Surrey RCMP is hoping someone knows or recognizes this man and calls us immediately,” said Schumann.
“City of Surrey employees all carry photo identification. A municipal employee does not conduct checks at private businesses and it is not their practice to show up without an appointment unannounced at a business. If you have concerns about suspicious activity, call police and take steps to verify their employment by calling the appropriate City department."
Anyone with more information is asked to contact the Surrey RCMP at 604-599-0502, the Langley RCMP at 604-532-3200, or Crime Stoppers, if they wish to remain anonymous, at 1-800-222-TIPS or www.solvecrime.ca. Please quote file #2017-36418.