A Clearwater man was arrested this week after he tried to con a man out of $300 in an auto repair scam.
Rockie Walter Demitro, 34, was charged with scheming to defraud and was taken to the Pinellas County Jail after the Wednesday incident. He subsequently has been released on $5,000 bail.
Police said Demitro approached Daniel Tesar in the parking lot of Michaels at Clearwater Mall about 3 p.m. Wednesday. He told Tesar he could fix a dent in the driver's side door of his vehicle with some special wax and that it would cost only $300 and take just 30 minutes.
Tesar agreed, but according to police, when he returned to his car 20 minutes later, the dent was still there.
A witness who saw what was happening recognized Demitro from a similar scam she said she was exposed to last year, and she called police.
Demitro was taken into custody before any money changed hands. He admitted to the scam that took place Wednesday, but said he had done it just the one time.
Detectives warn Clearwater residents to be wary of any person who approaches you in a parking lot or at your home, trying to sell you a service or product you have not inquired about. Clearwater residents can always call the police fraud hotline at 727-562-4424 if they have questions about potential scams.