Police are warning churches and charitable organizations in the Beeville area that a man is apparently approaching those entities trying to solicit money under false pretenses.

Detective Lt. Rene Guerrero said he has spoken to at least three intended victims who have been asked for money.

One church gave the man $350 and one local minister handed over $50 of his own money to the man, only to learn later that the man was not telling them the truth.

Guerrero said he also heard from one local business that a man matching the description approached them and asked for money. But they did not give him any.

The detective said the man always tells the same story. He says his 3-year-old daughter has died of leukemia at M.D. Anderson Hospital in Houston and that his wife is in Houston.

The man tells the intended victims that he needs money for gasoline and funeral expenses.

Guerrero said the man provided a name for one of his victims and when the detective checked it out, he found a man with the same name and description living in Laredo.

Guerrero said that man has a birthday of Oct. 2, 1970.

In each case, after the man has been given money, the victims have checked out the story only to be told that no 3-year-old girl with that name and with the same circumstances has died at M.D. Anderson Hospital.

Anyone who is approached by a Hispanic male approximately 39 years old who tells the same story is urged to call the BPD at 358-8100 and report the incident.