The city's bed bug epidemic has certainly engendered its share of incompetent and/or shady exterminators peddling expensive "treatments" that don't work. But an NBC report on Friday (above) pushes the bed bug grifter envelope from con artist to crook: A man is wanted for burglarizing five Brooklyn apartments this year after showing up unannounced and claiming to be a bed bug exterminator. He asks residents to leave while he "treats"--treats himself, that is, to their jewelry and whatnot.

Bottom line: If someone shows up at your door claiming to be an exterminator (or buildings department inspector, or any number of things you didn't ask for), don't let them in without first verifying their visit with your building management.

(NBCnewyork.com, via Bedbugger.com and Gothamist.com)

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