A man who made false claims to the City of Duquesne police department about a utility worker in the area could face criminal charges.

On Thursday, officers there got a report that a person claiming to be a Duquesne Light employee had been to at least three houses demanding immediate cash payment or he threatened to cut off the home owner’s electricity, according to the department’s Facebook page.

Investigators contacted Duquesne Light supervisors, who initially said they had no report of the person in question working there.

However, later Thursday the police spoke with a supervisor from another division at Duquesne Light who confirmed the man was an employee legitimately working in that area.

When police went back to the original caller, that man “backed off his story and admitted that the worker never demanded cash payment,” according to the department’s Facebook page.

The worker did tell the caller that his account was delinquent and that if he didn’t make payment, his power would be shut off, police said.

The department said it will refer the situation to the Allegheny County District Attorney’s office to consider filing a charge of false reports.

Duquesne police reminded the community that if a person from a utility company knocks on their door that the home owner should keep the door lock, ask the person to display their ID and provide a phone number to call and verify they are supposed to be working in the neighborhood.

“If there is any doubt, do not open the door and just call the police,” the department said.

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