AT LEAST two vulnerable residents in north Farnham were targeted by door-to-door scam artists masquerading as ‘water board’ officials last week.
Two smartly-dressed “Mediterranean-looking” men wearing baseball caps and full-face masks tricked their way into an elderly woman’s house on the Sandy Hill Estate on the evening of Monday, May 10, making off with her purse.
And the same duo are believed to have targeted another vulnerable Sandy Hill widower shortly afterwards, but were chased off by an observant neighbour and made a swift escape in a Volkswagen Golf.
The neighbour, Alan Brewer, said the fraudsters, who he thought were in their 20s, had knocked on the gentleman’s front and rear doors, and when he opened the front, had wedged a foot in and asked him to go upstairs to check his water meter.
But he refused, and had managed “with all his might” to shut his door shortly before Mr Brewer confronted them.
“They legged it down an alleyway,” Mr Brewer, adding his neighbour was “very unnerved” by the incident.
After calling the police, Mr Brewer was told an elderly woman had also been targeted that evening on the Sandy Hill Estate, and he believes the con-men are scoping out those living on their own.
“It’s diabolical,” he said. “People need to look out for their grandparents and elderly neighbours.”
The police arrived the next morning to interview his neighbour and take evidence, and a good Samaritan has since offered to secure his neighbour’s back gate for free.
A spokesman for the Waverley borough police team said: “Did you know there hasn’t been a ‘water board’ for more than 30 years? Our advice is, if you have any doubts about a doorstep caller, don’t let them in. If water company officials need to access your home, they will write to you to arrange a suitable appointment.”A spokesperson for Surrey Police later added: "Last week, police received calls to two addresses in the Sandy Hill Estate in Farnham. Both had received visits on Monday 10 May from two men claiming to be from the water board. "At the first address, the men claimed to be from the water board and said they needed to check the victim’s water meter, claiming that the water pressure was low. The victim was suspicious, checked the water pressure himself and then denied them entry."At the second address, the victim reported that two men claimed they were from the water board, and told her that there were damp issues with her neighbour’s property that they needed to investigate. They had no ID or paperwork, and once they’d left the victim checked with her neighbour and the water board and found that there were no issues with the neighbouring property."Distraction burglaries can be very frightening for the persons involved. Genuine callers will normally make an appointment first and will carry photo identification. If someone calls at your door unexpectedly, we recommend the following:* Check to see who it is by using the spy hole 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)* Only put on your door chain as you answer the door - don't keep it on all the time as this could delay your exit in case of fire* 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 (e.g. water, electricity, gas) operate a password system. Contact your local branch to find out more* If you're 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 number in your own telephone directory. Don't rely on the telephone number on their card - it may be the number of a criminal’s partner* Bogus callers sometimes work in pairs. Beware of one distracting you while the other steals your property. The best practice is not to let them in* Ensure your back door is locked if you are answering the door to someone you don't know.* Watch out for anyone who says they're 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* If you're still not happy, dial 999 and report it to the police. Spread the word amongst your neighbours so they know to be on the lookout for similar incidents."