Tamaqua police charged a borough man with swindling a resident out of money for promised sidewalk repairs.

Justin Boyer, 33, is facing charges of violating the Home Improvement Consumer Protection Act, theft by unlawful taking and theft by deception.

According to police, a Tamaqua man reported that he asked Boyer to fix his sidewalk on May 16. He planned to have Boyer start work on May 19 and gave him $400 for materials. The two did not have a contract, police said.

Police said that toward the end of May and beginning of June, Boyer gave excuses as to why the work wasn’t started. The man said Boyer told him May 18 that he had spent the money but would pay it back on June 21.

Officers said Boyer did not reimburse the man.