posing as water board employees or police officers...
Elderly residents are being urgently warned to be on their guard against
doorstep con artists who are targeting OAPs in the borough. Research has
shown that the average victim of this form of burglary is 78-years-old
and that 77 per cent are women.
Detectives say that there have been 14 distraction burglaries in the borough
since August 19, where conmen have tricked their way into the homes of
elderly residents and then stolen cash and other valuables.
They have conned their way into homes by posing as either police officers
or water board officials.
When they've pretended to be police officers, they
have produced a fake warrant card, which lacks a genuine Metropolitan
Police metal crest. A real warrant card should also give the officer's
number and name.
If anyone purporting to be a police officer calls unexpectedly, residents
should ask them to wait outside and not allow them into their homes, while
they telephone Wandsworth police on (020) 8870 9011 to verify the caller's
identity.
When they have posed as water company workers they
have worn workmen's overalls. However, residents are being reminded that
a genuine water board official will not normally require access to your
home unless you yourself have asked them to fix a leak or deal with another
problem.
Again, residents should ask them to wait outside, shut the door to prevent
them getting in and call Thames Water on 0845 9200 800 to check they are
genuine.
A frequent ploy used by the burglars is to try and frighten the occupier
by telling them have a leak. If there is a leak in your premises you would
almost certainly be already aware of it.
Most of these burglaries have taken place between 11.30am and 4.30pm.
Most, but not all, of the victims have been white women, aged over 60.
The two offenders are both white males, aged between 20 or 30, sometimes
they are described as having an Irish accent. Occasionally they will call
as a pair, at other times there will only be one of them knocking at your
door.
In order to avoid falling victim to con artists, residents should heed
the following advice.
� Do not open the door to unexpected callers. Always put your door chain
on first. If you are able to go upstairs, go and speak to the caller from
an upstairs window.
� Do not let anyone in whose identity you are not sure of. Anyone who
calls from the council, the gas board, the electricity board or the water
companies, will carry official identity cards. These cards will contain
the person�s name, a photograph, job title, organisation, card number
and expiry date. There will also be a telephone number you can ring to
verify the caller�s details.
� Use your telephone to confirm a caller�s details. Ask the organisation
to confirm the cardholder�s name and that he or she still works for their
company. All staff working for the council or the utility companies know
they must show their card. Do not feel uncomfortable asking to see proof
of identification from any official caller - a genuine caller will expect
you to check their identity.
� Don't let people into your home until you are sure. If you are not sure
about a caller�s identity, do not open your door. Ask them to go away
and write to you offering you an appointment. This means you can have
somebody with you when they call again.
� If you do not have a safety chain on your door, ask the person to post
their identity card through the letterbox. If you are not happy with their
details, telephone the number on the card.
� If a caller does not go away and becomes a nuisance then telephone 999
immediately and ask for the police.
This type of crime tends to be under-reported for a variety of reasons.
Many people do not realise until much later that they have been a victim
while others are too embarrassed to call the police.
The Home Office estimates that the police are only notified in about a
third of all cases, even though the burglars often escape with large sums
of money, including people's life savings or irreplaceable family heirlooms.
September 14, 2005
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