Just a warning to all Fairmount PBers:

Just an hour or so ago, my neighbor (2000 block of Green Street) spotted a 50-something black man, somewhat frail looking, trying to break into a basement level door on Green Street with a screwdriver. He did not get in, and left. The cops picked him up shortly afterward, but let him go as he'd ditched the screwdriver by the time they found him and they had no evidence to hold him.

Based on her description, this sounds like the same guy who stopped me on my front steps a week or so ago claiming to be a student from Delaware who needed money. He also wanted to get into my apartment to "use the phone." From what I've read on PB, this does not appear to be "Earl," but he does sound a bit like a few other characters who have been described on the forum, so please keep an eye out.

General description: male, 50-something, African-American, on the short side (maybe 5'6" or 5'7"). When I saw him he had some sort of card hanging around his neck which he pushed toward me and claimed was a student ID.

A couple of weeks ago I was on my way to the drugstore when a man that pretty much fit this description stopped me at my car. He flashed a laminated card at me and claimed that he was a student whose sister had just been beaten by her ex-boyfriend and that they needed some money to get back to DE. I told him I didn't have any, and he went on his way. The only real difference between this guy and the one described below (besides that he wasn't trying to break in to my car and was just asking for money) is that I think he looked younger than 50s. But the rest of the description matches.

This sounds like the guy that stopped me and a friend outside the Green Room at 20th and Green last Friday night. He was probably in his 30's. He flashed some ID from around his neck, said he worked in a restuarant on Locust and would we give him money to get him and his kids home. He said his kids were in his car, which the cops had given him 45 mins to move or it would be towed. Told him no, and he wandered off along Green Street towards 19th(opposite direction to where he said his kids were) in a huff.

He certainly wasn't in his 50's or frail looking though, but maybe they are on a joint scam. Haven't seen the older one yet, keep my eyes peeled though.

I've seen the younger version of this guy twice lately (he looked to be around 30, but had a short beard, like he hadn't shaved in a while). Once, maybe a month ago, he asked us how to get to West Oak Lane when we were a block from the Wawa/police station, and gave us some confusing story about how his sister's kids were at the police station, he was from DE, had to walk to West Oak Lane to get money for his sister...? I couldn't follow. Flashed a plastic card on a lanyard at us and said something about how he worked in a restaurant and would cook us anything we wanted if we gave him money. A couple nights ago, I saw him again, when he made a comment about my dog but didn't ask for money, and was in much higher spirits than the first time I saw him. Looks like we have another character in the area.

I've seen this guy, too--got the exact same West Oak Lane/sister's kids at the police station/etc, etc, story from him about two months back on 20th street outside the Green Room. He's not the same guy who just tried to break into the apartment on Green--as you said, he's much younger--but he's definitely hanging around the same area. Sounds like the story he gave you was just as confused as the one he gave me. I could barely tell what he was talking about.

Democrats. At least he didn't leave any dogchit on your steps.

What is the saying.... we're all democrats until an actual person chits on your steps???? something like that...

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Tell me your dreams, snowflake.

how do we know the two guys are democrats? did they have hillary buttons?

I saw the same or a similar guy a few weeks ago walking past CityView. He pulled out a bible and was talking about god and blah blah. Also asked how to get to West Oak Lane and said that a kid had an echocardiogram...If you're going to try to scam me, at least get your terminology right! When I pointed in the direction of the police district on 21st, he shut up, said something about how the cops hate him and went away. Funny how that always seems to happen with the scammers. They want help so bad, but never from the cops.

50 is ELDERLY?! Yikes!