Vienna residents report man claiming cash need for tow

Vienna residents have reported two similar incidents in which a man knocks on a door claiming to be a neighbor in need of cash for a tow for one of his parents, according to police.

It happened twice early Tuesday afternoon, according to town authorities, once in the 400 block of Echols St. SE and once in the 200 block of Church St. NE. In both cases, a resident gave a man money, then called police.

In the second case, a resident checked with her neighbor only to learn that she had no son and had not been involved in a crash, police said.

Both residents described the man as white, in his 40s and with a husky build and red cheeks.

-- David P. Marino-Nachison