Blind Warren man claims he was robbed after answering door for police

Larry Smith Jr.

A blind man from Leavittsburgh says he was robbed by someone who knocked on the door claiming they were from the police department.

"It was horrifying, I didn't know what to think," said Larry Smith, Jr.

According to a police report, 45-year-old Larry Smith, Jr. said he was house-sitting a home on the 800 block of Palmyra Road SW early Thursday morning when he heard a knock on the door from someone identifying themselves as Warren police.

Smith said when he opened the door, the visitor told him to place his hand behind his back.

The victim says he complied but then Smith was told to place his hands on the wall instead.

According to the report, Smith was then asked for his ID.

When the man claiming to be a police officer got the man's wallet, the victim claims he took $500 dollars then returned the wallet before running away. Smith says that the $500 was his rent money.

"Very sad, very sad. I don't mess around with anybody or anything. I keep to myself so I feel like nobody should bother me like that," said Smith, Jr.

Smith is still shaken up about the incident but is grateful it wasn't worse.

"Not being able to see, my back was towards him. Like, I didn't know what to expect if he was going to harm me or anything," he said.

Smith hopes this will serve as a lesson for others.

"When I get a knock like that and they say it's from a police department, please call your local police. Don't answer the door, verify, because it's very scary," said Smith, Jr.

Police are still investigating.