Warning following north Shropshire distraction burglaries
Police today urged people in Shropshire to be on their guard against doorstep callers after two elderly residents were targeted by a bogus water official.
The burglaries happened yesterday afternoon at Clive and Wem when women in their late seventies were confronted by a man who claimed there were problems with the water supply in the area.
Nothing appears to have been stolen in the first incident at Clive but a quantity of cash was taken from the Wem home.
A West Mercia Police spokesperson said today: "We are linking these two burglaries. In both cases, the resident has been distracted enabling the man to carry out a search within the premises.
"We are appealing for witnesses who might have seen the offender at either of the locations and also reminding people, especially the elderly, not to let strangers knocking on their door inside whatever reason they give.
"Distraction burglars will pose as water board workmen, or pretend to be from the council or some other utility company, and make-up a story about problems in the locality, which is just an excuse for gaining entry to the home. The simple message is : don't let strangers into your home."
The Clive burglary happened in Quarry View between midday and 1pm yesterday when a man walked into a home through an unlocked front door, telling the occupant he was from Severn Trent Water Authority and had come to check the water.
He asked her to flush the downstairs toilet and stay there while he turned the taps on in the kitchen. She saw him leave after about 20 minutes and later found an upstairs bedroom had been searched.
The Wem incident happened at Roden Grove, between1.30pm and 2.20pm. A man knocked on the door saying he had been drilling nearby and needed to check her water. He turned on various taps and then said he would have to fetch his van and left.
A short time after, the occupant discovered cash had been stolen from a bedside cabinet. About £40 was also stolen from her purse in the front room.
Anyone with information about the two incidents is asked to contact Wem or Shrewsbury police stations on 101 or call the anonymous Crimestoppers charity on 0800 555 111.
