Police issue warning after distraction burglaries in Shropshire
Shropshire's senior police detective has renewed warnings for people never to let strangers into their home after three distraction burglaries in the same day.
The first incident happened in Oswestry at about 10.45am on Wednesday 3rd October 2012, with two more incidents in Shrewsbury later that day.
Detective Chief Inspector Alan Edwards, in charge of CID in Shropshire, said police believe the same people are responsible for all three incidents.
Although still a rare crime, distraction burglaries tend to happen in spates and householders are warned to be vigilant.
On each occasion, a man approached the victims and claimed he needed to either check the water supply.
The Oswestry incident happened in College Road and the couple became suspicious, challenging the suspect and asking him to leave before anything was taken.
He was white, in his 30s, between 5ft 8in and 5ft 10in tall and of slim build. He was wearing dark clothing including a baseball cap, waist-length jacket with a zip and logo on the chest, trousers and grey and black trainers. He was seen by witnesses leaving the scene with two or three other men in a silver or grey car, possibly or similar to a Vauxhall Vectra or Insignia. They may have been wearing green gloves.
The first incident in Shrewsbury happened between about 11.40am and midday in Belle Vue Gardens, with a man pulling up in a "posh" grey car and claiming he needed to check the water supply. He asked the elderly lady to turn the kitchen taps on and off while he chatted to her.
After he left, the victim discovered another person had searched the house while she was distracted. Nothing is thought to have been stolen.
The same offenders then went to another elderly lady's house in Sutton Way, again one of them knocking and saying he is from the Water Board. Once inside, he asked her to fill pans with water while he opened the back door, claiming to be looking for the drain cover.
The victim became suspicious when he began touching wires beneath the sink and spotted a second man in the other room. Challenging him, he claimed to have fixed her radiator and the lady demanded that they leave. Once outside, they met up with a third man and walked away.
All three were white, with the first in his 20s or 30s, about 6ft in height and of stocky build. He had short dark hair, was clean shaven and was wearing blue jeans and a blue zip-up jacket with a logo on the chest. The second man was slightly shorter than the first, in his 20s, of skinny build with a thin, stubbled face. He was wearing a light-coloured beanie hat with "straggly" hair sticking out from beneath it and his clothing was similar to the first man.
CCTV from College Road and around the two Shrewsbury is being examined and anyone who saw these people or their car at the relevant times is urged to contact police on 101.
DCI Edwards urged people never to let a cold caller into their home, no matter why the claim to be there.
"The ‘Water Board' doesn't exist anymore and these offenders will say anything to try and get access to your home," he said.
"They have the gift of the gab and are very convincing. The vast majority of the time they target vulnerable elderly people.
"Wherever they claim to be from and whatever the reason, do not let them inside. Speak to anyone you are not expecting through a window or use a door chain.
"Any genuine caller will be happy to come back later date once you have checked their identity or can arrange to have someone with you."
DCI Edwards also urged people to keep an eye on elderly neighbours and to report any suspicious people or vehicles to police on 101.
"Residents know each other, you know which cars and people are familiar to your street and anyone acting suspiciously should be reported to us to we can check them out," he added.
