Brought to you by WBIW News and Network Indiana
Last updated on Monday, February 13, 2012
(Indianapolis) - Detectives said Richard Adams was a smooth talking scam artist with a hard luck story. Sunday morning… Adams’ luck ran out at a northside apartment complex.
After fielding reports from scam victims for the past week... IMPD arrested Adams, 50, at the Somerset Lakes Apartments where management has passed out notices with a mug shot and Adams' story.
"He said something about his keys got locked in his car or needed a ride," said Timel James who called police. "He asked me for $20. Soon as he said $20, I was like... man... that's him."
According to at least three police reports, Adams has been making his way from Meridian Street to Keystone Avenue, across Broad Ripple, knocking on doors with a hard luck story and seeking money.
"He's very good. That's the only thing I can say," said one man who was convinced by Adams to hand over $40.
Don't Wait for School Closings! Sign-up to Receive School Closing & Delays Text Alerts
The victim said Adams came to his door last week claiming to be a neighbor who locked his keys in the his truck.
"He needed $40 to give to a person to pop the lock on his truck."
The victim said Adams sat in his living room and used a cell phone to call a non-existent wife and carry on a conversation about finding a Good Samaritan to help him solve his dilemma. The victim then drove Adams to a bank to withdraw and hand over $40 before driving around the north side.
"I went to CVS. He was going to a Chinese restaurant. She didn't have a key so we went back down... a guy at a muffler shop was going to be able to pop the lock but he wanted $40 in advance and I said, 'Well, okay... I've gone this far. Why not?'"
The man eventually dropped Adams off in another neighborhood...and never saw him again.
Other victims report similar encounters with one woman explaining she gave Adams nearly $50 just to get him out of her car. In that case, Adams faces confinement and theft charges. He may also face theft by deception charges.
When Adams was arrested Sunday, he was carrying a notice about his case in his back pocket.
"Its all built around the premise of being a neighbor and that's the neighborly thing," said one victim. "That's the Christian thing to help your neighbor and people."
1340 AM WBIW welcomes comments and suggestions by calling 812.277.1340 during normal business hours or by email at comments@wbiw.com
© Ad-Venture Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved.