Weaverham woman has lucky escape from bogus caller (From Northwich Guardian)

Weaverham woman has lucky escape from bogus caller

12:50pm Monday 6th September 2010 in

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RESIDENTS are being reminded to check for identification when someone calls at their door after an attempted distraction burglary in Weaverham.

The incident occurred around 2pm, on Tuesday, August 23, when a woman in Leigh Way opened her front door to a man, who told her there had been a burst pipe in the street and some of her neighbours had been taken to hospital.

The woman asked for identification and, when the man failed to produce any, she refused him entry and called the police.

The man is described as tall, white, in his late 20s and wearing a navy blue outfit.

Police are linking this to a similar incident that happened just 45 minutes earlier in Frodsham, when an elderly woman answered the door to a man claiming to be from the water board. Again, he told her a pipe had burst along the road and he needed to check her water.

The victim let him and a second man into the house before becoming suspicious and asking them to leave.

Nothing was stolen.

Insp Paul Loughlin, of the Northwich Neighbourhood Policing Team, said: “I would remind residents to ask any stranger who calls at their homes for identification.

“Genuine callers will not be offended and utility companies encourage this practice.

“If you are still not convinced, do not let them in, instead find a number for the company they claim to be from and call to check their credentials.

“If you are at all suspicious, call the police.

“As this incident shows, these types of criminals will travel from one town or village to the next and usually target elderly or vulnerable people.”