Police: Contractor Ripped Off Grocery Owner

A South Bethlehem grocery store owner says he was ripped off by an Allentown man who promised to fix his heating and air conditioning system, accepted a $2,000 down-payment for the job and then disappeared.

City police have now formally charged Alfredo Rivera with felony theft from Antonio Figueroa, the owner of , 915 Lynn Ave.

According to court papers, Rivera, 39, of 801 S. Fillmore St., Allentown, agreed to fix La Tienda’s heating and air conditioning and on October 19 accepted a $2,000 check from Figueroa to start the job.

But in the following weeks, Figueroa told police, he never heard from Rivera, even after making repeated telephone calls, the arrest warrant said. Finally, on November 25, Figueroa sent a certified letter to Rivera demanding that his money be returned.

But as of Thursday, the warrant states, Figueroa still had not heard from Rivera, who was arrested over the weekend. It was unclear from court records whether Rivera was in jail and under what conditions.