Bogus 'Water Board' Callers target three Shropshire towns
Police have appealed for anyone who might have seen two white men dressed in dark clothing acting suspiciously in Shrewsbury, Whitchurch and Market Drayton between about 1pm and 3pm on Friday.
The would-be distraction burglars claiming to be from the ‘water board’ targeted three homes in three different Shropshire towns in just over one hour.
Fortunately, each of the potential victims was suspicious and asked the men to leave before anything could be stolen.
Officers have also renewed warnings for householders, especially elderly people, to never let anybody inside that they did not know or were not expecting.
The first incident happened in Grove Gardens, Market Drayton at about 1.30pm, when two white men walked into the home of an elderly man.
When he challenged them, they claimed to be from the ‘water board’. However, neither had identification and when the victim spotted one of them men enter his bedroom, he told them to leave and called the police.
Just over half an hour later, two men called at the home of an elderly woman in Allerton Road, also claiming they needed to check the water. She let them inside but they left empty-handed a few moments later when she went to call a friend.
And at about 2.45pm, two men walked into a house in Queensway, Whitchurch, again claiming to be from the water board. However, there were several people in the house at the time and when challenge for identification, the two men left.
Extensive searches were carried out in each area following the incidents, which are being treated as attempted distraction burglaries.
Inspector Graham Preece from West Mercia Police said due to the similar nature and timescale of the offences, police were investigating whether the same two men were responsible for all three.
“Incidents like this serve as a reminder not to allow anybody into your home that you do not know or are not expecting,” he said.
“These people generally prey on elderly people and often claim to be from the ‘water board’ and that there is some sort of problem they need to come inside to check.
“The Water Board doesn’t exist and anybody who claims they need to gain access to your home for any reason should be asked to remain outside while you check their identity.
“Severn Trent Water covers Shropshire and anybody claiming to be calling on their behalf will have identification and their validity can be checked by calling the company.”
Inspector Preece advised that people should ideally speak to cold callers through a window or using a door chain and if they were not happy with who they claimed to be, not to let them in.
“Any genuine tradesperson or workman will be happy to return at a later time or date when you have checked they are genuine and can arrange to have somebody with you,” he said.
In the Market Drayton incident, the men are described as white and dressed in black clothing, with one of them in his 20s and the other one older. The offenders in the Shrewsbury incident were also white and wore black clothing, were of large build and about 5ft 10in in height.
Both suspects in the Whitchurch incident were also white, with one of them in his late 20s or early 30s and the other in his late 30s to 40s. The older suspect was of stocky build with brown, slightly balding hair beneath a black woollen hat. He was wearing a distinctive jumper with a grey and black zigzag design and some form of lettering on it.
Anyone who might have witnessed any suspicious activity that might be connected is asked to contact police on 101 or the anonymous Crimestoppers number 0800 555 111.
