Syracuse (WSYR-TV) - After setting up an undercover sting, Syracuse Police say they caught a man in the act of trying to rip off one business and they suspect there may be more. Police say he's made bogus claims about missing carpets, bad tires, grinds in coffee and hair in pizza.
Syracuse Police are eager to hear from any business that's had dealings with Henry Moore. He's 6’ 8” and 220 pounds. They’re hoping to get the word out for businesses to be on the lookout and help them determine how many victims there are.
Folks at Freedom of Expresso Coffee Shop are all too familiar with him. They say Moore bullied them into giving him money; he claimed he got a bad box of coffee. Cat Clark, an employee at the store, said “We should have questioned him further, but because of his demeanor, he had a scary stance, it seemed as if he could hurt someone, so we just turn care of him.”
Moore came calling again, but this time the shop's owner, called police.
Posing as the shop employee, an undercover detective was ready to greet Moore. However, this time, Moore sent in an accomplice. Thinking she was about to get a refund receipt, the detective instead handed her a slip of paper, which read, you're under arrest.”
Moore's alleged accomplice, Annette Hutchinson was arrested, along with Moore who was waiting outside. They were both charged with misdemeanor scheme to defraud and given appearance tickets.
Syracuse police have learned about four other businesses who claim Moore tried to scam them too.
Police claim he entered Manco Dist. Inc on Wolf Street and told the owner he purchased two rolls of carpet two months ago and had left one of them to pick up later. No receipt was provided, and Moore became belligerent and would not take no for an answer so the owner gave in and gave him a roll of carpet to get rid of him.
He claimed he entered bought a pizza with a hair on it at Nikos Pizza on E. Water Street. In that case, he also allegedly became belligerent when told he needed to bring the pizza back. Employees there did not believe him. Police were called to the pizza shop.
Moore is accused of walking into C&C Mini Mart on N. Salina Street and making a similar claim about a pizza with a hair on it. Like the previous case, he was told he would need to bring the pizza back for a refund. Police say Moore became verbally abusive, and made racial slurs toward the owner.
He’s also accused of entering Empire Tire on Teall Ave. and tried returning two tires that were not the same ones he purchased the day before. Police say he became verbally abusive toward the owner, and the owner gave in, refunding the tires. Police say they were told by the owner Moore and the girl identified as Hutchinson were there before trying to pull scams.
“Through doing some research on him, we've learned he's got an extensive criminal history, including violent convictions. We don't want to see a violent confrontation. The more we hear, the better the charges and we can put him in jail and keep in there,” said Sgt. Tom Connellan, a spokesperson for Syracuse Police.
If additional businesses file complaints against him, Moore could face a more serious felony charge.
Syracuse Police are asking anyone in the area that may have had dealings with either of the two individuals to contact Syracuse Police at
442-5645.
