Burnham-On-Sea Police are asking residents to be on their guard against distraction burglars after a lady was robbed of £300 in Highbridge on Wednesday afternoon (August 2nd).
A man who claimed he was investigating a smell coming from the drains visited an elderly woman at her home in Morland Road.
The man turned on the taps in the kitchen and asked the lady to lower the pressure for him.
She did not know what he meant and was then told to empty the cupboards and bend down under the sink.
A second man entered the house and said “it’s finished” and they both left. Later, the woman discovered that £300 in cash had been stolen from her purse.
A police spokesman told Burnham-On-Sea.com: “One man was described as being white, 5ft 6ins tall, aged in her mid 20s, he had short dark hair with a straight fringe, a round face with a fresh complexion and large thin lips.”
“He had white straight teeth, hazel or brown eyes, was of slim build and was wearing a T-shirt with red logo on it and dark jeans. The second man was white, aged in his late 30’s with receding gingery hair.”
Police are encouraging people to remember to use the Doorstep Code (outlined below) when answering the door to cold callers. It is also worth signing up to the Nominated Neighbour scheme, details of which are available from Burnham police station.
Anyone who has any information about the Highbridge incident or thinks they may have been a victim should contact Police on 0845 4567000.
.Police advice for dealing with bogus callers:
Check to see who it is by using the spyhole on your front door if you have one, or look through a front window. Always put the chain on before you open the door. If you don’t have a chain it’s a good idea to get one – they don’t cost much.
With PVC doors, it can be difficult and costly to fit a door chain. Check with the manufacturer before you buy a PVC door that a chain can be fitted. For fire safety reasons, only put your door chain on when you answer the door. Don’t keep it on all the time as this could delay your exit in the case of fire.
When you open the door:
Look at their clothing. Some official callers will have a uniform bearing their organisation’s name or symbol.
If you don’t know the caller, ask to see their identity card. Check it carefully, and keep the chain on while you do this. Genuine callers won’t mind if you close the door while you do this.
Some public utility services (eg water, electricity, gas) operate a password system. Contact your utility provider – their number will be on your bill.
If you are still not sure, ask the caller to come back later. You can then check their story by phoning the organisation or company they claim to represent. Look up the telephone number in your own directory. Don’t rely on their card – it may be the number of a crook’s partner.
Bogus callers usually work in pairs. Beware of one distracting you while the other steals your property. The best practice is not to let them in.
Watch out for anyone who says they are in a hurry. Don’t let them pressure you. If in doubt, call a neighbour or friend.
If you have any suspicions at all, don’t let them in.
