DARBY BOROUGH, Pa. – George Cook, 42, was arrested Friday while working under his business, GC’s Contracting, after multiple homeowners accused him of scamming them out of thousands of dollars for unfinished home projects.
One homeowner, who identified herself only as Madeline, paid Cook over $12,000 to renovate her basement and bathroom, but the work remains incomplete. She said this was not the first time Cook failed to finish a job. Last year, she paid him $5,600 to repair her deck, but he stopped showing up. Despite the setback, she gave him a second chance.
“He promised me it was going to be daily work,” Madeline said.
Another resident, Laverne Tolbert of Spruce Street, paid Cook roughly $5,000 in June for driveway, deck, and backyard repairs. After about a week of work, Cook stopped responding to calls, leaving Tolbert with what she described as hazardous construction.
“I’m looking at a liability,” Tolbert said. “This wood right here, I’m not even a contractor, and I know this is wrong. I have two small grandkids… If I moved the wrong way on that porch, I’m coming down.”
Cook faces similar charges of home improvement fraud, theft by unlawful taking, and receiving stolen property in neighboring Media and Upper Gwynedd.
“He needs to be held accountable because if he does get out, he will do this again,” Tolbert warned.
Darby Borough Police Chief Joseph Gabe expressed concern over Cook’s low bail amount, set at 10% of $10,000, especially since Cook was already out on bail for a prior theft charge.
“This individual has shown a pattern of disregard for the law, and there are victims who continue to be impacted by these crimes,” Chief Gabe said.
At least six victims from various towns reached out to Darby police Friday, urging others who suspect they may have been scammed to report to their local police.
