Wallingford Chamber of Commerce president Kara Ceriello sent out an alert to local businesses over the weekend about an alleged shoplifter/con artist who is well known around the neighborhood. He’s dubbed “Big Hands Guy” because, Ceriello described in her alert, “the biggest distinguishing characteristic is his hands: they’re swollen, esp the fingers, and reddish, due to some medical condition.” The man is 50ish, about 6’2″, about 210 lbs, has dark hair that’s short but curly, and often has a mustache. He talks with a New York accent and says he’s from Alaska.
On Sunday “Big Hands Guy” followed his typical M.O., according to Ceriello, who owns the shop Not a Number: “After he’s scouted the premises, found a high-ticket item, and brings it up to the counter to ‘return.’ After today trying to ‘return’ a $60 clock, our employee said no returns without receipt, and he left (strangely, without the clock) to ‘go get the receipt.'”
Ceriello said that “Big Hands Guy” must observe businesses closely, because he targets newer employees who might not know of his scams and sometimes will mention the name of the business owner, feigning a connection.
A former Not a Number employee drew a sketch of “Big Hands Guy” (seen here) that Ceriello has in the past distributed to area businesses.
This guy was in the Greenwood / Ballard Areas, trying to shoplift from Mud Bay. He was wearing a purple hoodie, in which he was stuffing stolen merchandise.
The description matches what we've already heard. He is also said to have swollen ankles.
Call it in, if you catch him in your store.
He's found his way to Green Lake: http://www.mygreenlake.com/2010/03/big-hands-guy/