THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, November 10, 1995 TAG: 9511100499
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B4 EDITION: FINAL
DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH LENGTH: Short : 34 lines
A New York man who is suspected of defrauding elderly East Coast residents by claiming to be a chimney contractor may have recently bilked Virginia Beach residents, police said.
Police are looking for 32-year-old Kevin Sommerville, who may have worked for a local chimney company as recently as last year. Police said he was seen in Northern Virginia last month.
According to police, Sommerville frequently calls elderly homeowners and offers them a free chimney inspection to keep up their warranty. When they agree, he points out fictitious problems and offers to fix them. Then, he either does shoddy work or no work at all and charges the owners several thousand dollars.
Police said Sommerville has conned residents out of more than $50,000 in three years.
He has used several names for himself and his business. In some conversations with homeowners, Sommerville has mentioned a son with a heart problem, police said.
Police ask anyone with information about Sommerville to call 427-0000. ILLUSTRATION: Photo
Kevin Sommerville
KEYWORDS: FLIM FLAM FRAUD by CNB