801 Crockett Street, Shreveport, Louisiana 71101
318/ 673-6655 ● FAX: 318/ 673-6656 ● www.shreveportfire.org

Kelvin J. Cochran, Fire Chief

June 27, 2002

PRESS RELEASE
To: Newsroom
For Immediate Release
Contact: Brian A. Crawford, Public Information Officer
Phone: 673-6652, cell: 455-2609, page: 675-2137

ATTENTION: AREA BUSINESS ALERT
Man Posing as Fire Inspector Scammed Area Business

The Shreveport Fire Department is issuing a business alert for a scam being perpetrated by an individual posing as a fire inspector and then charging businesses . . .

for inspecting their fire protection equipment. Shreveport fire investigators said that a man walked into the Exxon Gas Station on Bert Kouns at I-49 (in front of Home Depot and Academy Sports) yesterday around noon and told the clerk that he was there to inspect the station’s fire extinguishers.

The suspect then looked over the businesses’ two extinguishers and even wrote something on one of the real inspections tag attached to the device. The suspect then returned to the counter and filled out a phoney invoice for $30 under the business name AAA Safe (Not to be confused with a legitimate area business - AAA Safety). The clerk issued and then cashed a money order for payment of the inspection. The white male suspect is described as 5' 8", 175 lbs. and was wearing a white T-shirt and blue jeans at the time of the crime.

The Shreveport Fire Department is the only inspecting agency of a city businesses’ fire protection equipment. Inspecting extinguishers is performed on an annual basis by the department’s Fire Prevention Bureau. Anyone with information about this crime can contact the Shreveport Police Department or Fire Prevention Office at 673-6740. ###