Man Awaiting Trial Suspect In New Thefts

Sat., March 21, 1998

From Staff And Wire Reports

A clerk at the Fairfield Inn Marriott, 311 N. Riverpoint, was swindled out of $55 Wednesday night by a scam artist who has victimized more than two dozen people in Spokane, police said.

The thief identified himself as Jeff Vandervert of Vandervert Construction Inc. of Spokane, and asked the clerk to loan him the money to have a broken down car towed. He left a worthless necklace as collateral.

Vandervert has never worked for the construction company, detectives said, and the company itself has been victimized.

Detectives said Vandervert used the same scam to defraud 21 others. He is charged with a felony count of second-degree theft. He was released on his own recognizance while awaiting trial.

Since his release, police said they’ve received six additional complaints involving the scam.

Vandervert, 37, is described as 5-foot-11, 190 pounds.

, DataTimes

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