Update: Unlicensed Locksmith In San Mateo County JailFour Months After ABC7 Gouging Investigation
By Michael Finney
SAN BRUNO, Calif., Jun. 28 (KGO) - An unlicensed locksmith accused of gouging customers and preying on the vulnerable is in a San Mateo county jail tonight.
The arrest of the locksmith by the San Bruno Police Department comes just four months after our hidden cameras caught him in action in an undercover sting.
29-year-old Moshe Mizrachi is being held on $25,000 dollars bail in Redwood City.
Police believe he works for the same company accused of leaving a gaping hole in a San Bruno woman's front door.
He's also the same person seen in our hidden camera video and identified by a Santa Clara county woman, as the locksmith who charged her $3,000 dollars to change nine locks, and he's the same locksmith identified by this San Francisco man as the one who bilked him for $5,000 dollars just to change one lock.
Janet Chung was the landlord who had to foot the bill.
Janet Chung, San Francisco: "We're starting to get closure on this. It's been a while. Slow process, so I'm pretty happy about the arrest."
San Bruno police say Mizrachi's latest victim is an 86-year-old woman. Authorities say he billed her $1,500 dollars for one lock.
Lt. Marc Catalano, San Bruno Police: "We are actively seeking charges of elder abuse, and obtaining money under false pretenses."
Up to now, Mizrachi has refused to answer any questions about his business practices and rates.
ABC7's Michael Finney: What kind of training do you have? What kind of license do you have? $900 dollars to replace a lock? You weren't even here an hour. Come on lets talk about this. You're a legitimate business man, let's have a talk."
He'll now have to answer to a court of law. Most local authorities don't give consumer scams a high priority, not San Bruno police.
Lt Marc Catalano, San Bruno Police: "Anytime we find a victim whether its elderly or anybody, it is a felony if the value is over $400 dollars so we take these pretty seriously."
Right now, Mizrachi is only facing charges in San Bruno, and not for any of his other alleged abuses.
Janet Chung, San Francisco: "We'd also like to see the different agencies that we've been working with utilize what they've been put in power to do to help us."
Those other authorities would be the San Francisco district attorney's office and the department of consumer affairs. Authorities have tied Mizrachi to two companies — believed to be one and the same — USA A1 locksmith and A1 San Bruno Locksmith. Those companies have not been charged.
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