Furnace seller allegedly dupes elderly man in Bell Township

State police in Kiski Valley are looking for an A1 Heating and Cooling employee who they say sold an elderly man in Bell a used oil furnace but allegedly failed to install it.

According to a police report, the associate sold and delivered the furnace, which was advertised in a newspaper for $450, to a Waukena Road resident Nov. 25. The associate offered to install it for $500, police said, so the buyer gave the man $950 to finish the job.

As of Thursday, the installation has not been completed, police said, and the victim has been relying on a kerosene heater to keep his home warm.

Numerous attempts to contact the associate have failed, police said.

Police listed the location of the company as Hopwood or Uniontown. The phone number for the company under Uniontown on the Better Business Bureau's website is the cellphone number for a Newell resident, Timothy Novak.

Theresa Puchalski said Novak, her fiance, was contacted by state police regarding the incident, but she said they have nothing to do with A1 Heating and Cooling. She said they were never contacted by a man purchasing a furnace, nor do they know the victim.

Puchalski said Novak has brain damage from a near-fatal motorcycle accident, so he would be unable to operate such a company.

Attempts by the Tribune-Review to contact the company using a phone number listed under a Hopwood location on the Better Business Bureau's website were unsuccessful, and the listing states the company is believed to be out of business.

Police said the associate will be charged with theft by deception unless he is located and completes the installation.

Anyone with information is asked to contact state police at 724-727-3434.

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Furnace seller allegedly dupes elderly man in Bell Township