By Newlin Archinal, WPXI News (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania)
PITTSBURGH, Penn.- Though you would probably expect it to be difficult to get the clothes and items needed to impersonate a police officer, guess again.
A woman, who does not want to be identified, was driving to her Canonsburg home two years ago when she was stopped by a man in uniform.
“I was driving home on Route 19 and I saw a red light behind me flashing ,” she said. “First he asked if I had been drinking. I said no and he said there must be something wrong with your car because you were swerving all over.”
When he offered to drive her home, something felt wrong.
“He didn’t ask for my license or registration or anything like that,” she said. “I got nervous and drove away. His hands were still in my car and his head still in my window.”
Police told her the man who stopped her was an imposter.
This crime is becoming more common in some areas.
Police blame some of that on the Internet, where anyone can buy police equipment.
Because many sites don’t ask for verification, WPXI-TV was able to get a basic uniform and a police vest which we used to suit up a co-worker.
WPXI-TV then had him stand alongside a Cecil Township police officer while we asked drivers if they could spot the fake.
Out of nearly a dozen people, only three correctly identified the real officer.
Cecil Township police officer Richard Egizio said, “It’s kind of what we expect with the recent imposters going around.”
So why are some people so easily fooled?
Aside from the uniform, police say it’s the flashing light.
A driver’s first instinct is pull over when they see it in their rear-view mirrors.
Another police officer provided this advice, “Put on your flashers, drive to a well-lit area. Don’t crack the window any more than to speak and hand credentials.”
That’s advice that could keep you or a loved one safe behind the wheel.
Police say an authentic uniform will have badges, bars and pins on the shirt.
The penalty for impersonating a police officer is two years in jail or a $5,000 fine.
But few people are ever caught because victims forget to get a license plate number.