Businesses warned about man posing as fire inspector

WAUKESHA -- Waukesha officials are urging businesses to be on the alert for a man who claims to be a fire inspector.

The Waukesha Fire Department was conducting routine inspections on businesses when officials learned someone else was claiming to be an inspector and going through businesses in the last two or three weeks.

The businesses this suspect visited were all industrial in nature.  The suspect wore a light blue button up shirt with a badge, wore sunglasses during the inspections and may have drove a white Chevy Impala. 

Waukesha Fire Marshall Brian Charlesworth says the man's car didn't have a fire department logo, and the proper fire inspector shirt is white not blue. "That can lead to an erosion of public trust, which obviously we work very hard to hold that trust and hold the integrity of our position and what we do," he said.

Officials say it's not clear whether this individual was using this ruse to better learn about the businesses for committing future crimes such as burglary or robbery or if he had some other motive. 

City of Waukesha Police Department Sergeant Jerry Habanek says, "We take this very serious. This is a felony we're going to investigate this to the fullest length that we can."

If there are any questions about the legitimacy of an inspector, business owners are encouraged to contact the Dispatch Center’s non-emergency line at 262-524-3831 (or 911 by landline if there is an emergency). 

If you have any information about this person, you're urged to contact Detective Eileen Micklitz at the Waukesha Police Department with any information at 262-522-1011.

Monitor FOX6 News and FOX6Now.com for updates on this developing story.