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Police in Boardman probe possible home rental scam

BOARDMAN — A Struthers woman thought she was moving into her new home, but found out she was mistaken and got arrested in the process.

According to a Boardman police report, officers arrived at a house in the 7300 block of Tippecanoe Road after the house’s caretaker told the owner that someone appeared to have moved in.

The owner said he had not leased the property, and police were called.

They found Summer Alderman, 46, of Struthers, inside the house, with a friend helping her move boxes in from a trailer parked in the driveway.

Alderman told police she had corresponded with a man who posted the property for rent on Facebook, and told her he would charge her $500 per month to live there. She showed police text messages between her and the man, and she had keys that opened several doors on the property. Police noted no signs of forced entry to the house.

The report states that messages show the man sent her pictures and video from inside the house on June 25, and she asked for a signed rental agreement to show her parole officer.

She said she met with him a few days prior to get the keys, and while she did not know his full name, she said he could be contacted on Facebook.

The report states that police determined Alderman had an active warrant from Campbell Municipal Court for failure to appear, and she was arrested.

The property owner let her friend back into the house to move Alderman’s belongings back out to the trailer, and he put an electronic lock box on the door.

The report states that a Realtor also came to the house to discuss the matter after police determined that someone Alderman dealt with may have been posing as the Realtor.

The report states that the owner and real estate agent stated that someone could have stolen the keys during an open house at the home, or while contractors were in the house recently.

Police took Alderman’s phone so the text exchange with the man could be logged into evidence.

Have an interesting story? Contact Dan Pompili by email at dpompili@vindy.com. Follow us on X, formerly Twitter, @TribToday.

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