Forsyth County man accused of posing as cable repairman to steal meds

Forsyth County sheriff deputies have arrested an alleged cable TV guy impersonator who they said stole prescription drugs from unsuspecting homeowners, Cpl. Robin Regan announced Thursday.

William Arnold, 43, of Cumming, was charged with theft, Regan said.

“Arnold was discovered to be posing as a Comcast employee to gain entry into homes of primarily elderly victims,” Regan told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “Once inside, Arnold was stealing prescription pills while the victims were distracted.”

Investigators interviewed witnesses following the report of a theft on Nov. 7. Initially it was believed that three people were involved with the alleged scheme, which involved disconnecting the cable and then telling the residents they were in the neighborhood because of reports of cable problems.

The investigation turned up incriminating items in Arnold’s possession, Regan said. Arnold, who worked for USIC, a contractor used by Comcast, was arrested Tuesday and a search of his truck turned up two Comcast IDs and a Comcast shirt and jacket, according to the police report.

“William admitted to lying to victims by saying he worked for Comcast and then going into their homes and taking prescription pills,” the arresting deputy wrote in the report.

Regan said the investigators are looking into “other incidents” where Arnold may have used the ruse.

In an interview with The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the suspect’s wife, Christine Arnold, denied that her husband, who she said works for a Comcast contractor, had been involved in a series of thefts and only faces one charge. She said her husband was assisting a homeowner and was wearing a Comcast shirt because his contractor shirt was dirty.