Phoenix construction company repairs roof for scammed owner
Nov 21, 2014, 6:32 PM | Updated: 6:32 pm
PHOENIX — A Phoenix construction company righted a wrong Friday when they repaired a roof for a homeowner who was scammed by a former employee.
In July, 72-year-old Dolores Kopp’s home near 24th Avenue and Bell Road was one of many in her neighborhood that were damaged in a powerful storm.
Unlike her neighbors though, Kopp was not only a victim of storm damage. She also became a victim of fraud while trying to repair her home.
Phoenix Police Detective Michelle Dalton said Kopp asked Jeremy Lillard, an employee of AllPhase Construction, which had been repairing a neighbor’s house, if the company could also repair her home.
“Mr. Lillard wrote up a contract and accepted a personal check from her,” Dalton said. “Unfortunately, AllPhase Construction was never made aware that she was contracted for work with them.”
After that, Dalton said neither Kopp nor Lillard’s boss, Chance Williams, who owns AllPhase Construction, were able to reach him. Lillard was later arrested.
Kopp said she soon realized that Lillard had made off with her $5,000.
“I felt panicked,” Kopp said. “Of course you get angry, why would somebody do this? (It’s) somebody you trust at this point because I figure he’s working for a trustworthy company and so they trusted him too … and then this happened. Yes, you feel very bad when this happens.”
When Williams heard Lillard had disappeared with Kopp’s money, he volunteered to fix her roof at no cost to her.
“She’s not paying a dime out of her pocket,” he said. “If (Lillard) ever pays any restitution, I guess we’ll see that, but that’s not our concern right now. Our concern is making right to her (and) making sure that she got her roof taken care of.”
On Friday morning, Williams showed up to Kopp’s home with about eight workers and materials to complete the repair on her home.
Kopp said she’s glad to get her home fixed, especially right before the holidays.
“I’m very happy, yes, that this is being done before Thanksgiving,” she said.