On Tuesday, police in two towns warned shoppers about a scam that is taking place in grocery store parking lots.
They said the victims have been in Waterbury and Watertown, and they lost hundreds of dollars in the last few weeks.
“I was crying, I was hysterical and crying,” said one victim who didn’t want to give her name.
She said she was recently caught off guard in a Stop and Shop parking lot on Reidville Drive in Waterbury.
“I backed up out of the parking space and I heard a thump,” she explained.
She thought she hit a worker while he was pushing shopping carts, but it was all a scam.
“He starts screaming you hit me you, could have killed me he was holding onto his wrist,” she added.
The man claimed she shattered his cell phone, then demanded her to pay up. She handed over $140, but the next day she learned she never ran into anyone.
Police said the man punched the back of her carto make it sound like she hit something. He made everything up to get some quick cash.
“I can’t explain to you how believable he was I truly thought I hit him,” she admitted.
Police told NBC Connecticut the same thing happened to an elderly woman at Adam’s Supermarket in Watertown on Sunday.
There was another instance at the Stop and Stop on Chase Avenue in Waterbury late last month.
“As you’re leaving the parking spot they're hitting your car with a fist,” explained Deputy Chief Chris Corbett with Waterbury Police.
On Tuesday, police didn’t know if the same suspect was responsible for all the crimes.
They said they were looking through surveillance video from those grocery stores to get some answers and track down whoever had been doing this.
“I think the chances are very good we'll catch the person,” Corbett explained.
Police wanted shoppers to be aware until that happenS. The victim who NBC Connecticut spoke with said she didn’t want anyone else getting taken.
“Don’t succumb to it like I did,” she warned the public.
Police said if this happens to you in a parking lot, do not give the man money. They said call them instead, and file a police report.