Thieves target two more Northampton pensioners claiming to be from water company

Police issued fresh "If you're not sure, don't open the door" warning after two pensioners were targeted by burglars in neighbouring areas of Northampton.

Officers do not believe the same crook is behind the two incidents but the ruse — claiming to be from a water company — is similar to a third case nearby last month.

Officers revealed a man called at a property in Chalcombe Road, Kingsthorpe, late on Monday night (May 4) claiming he needed to check water pressure but fled after she threatened to cal for help.

Less than an hour later, another pensioner was targeted in Brookfield Road, Kingsley. This time the crook tricked his way into the house and searched the house before asking for money.

A spokesman for Northamptonshire Police said: "The first incident happened between 9.15pm and 9.25pm, when a man knocked on the door of an elderly woman’s house in Chalcombe Road. She did not answer the door, so he shouted that he needed to come in and check the water pressure before he peered through her kitchen window.

"The woman told him she was going to call a friend and the man quickly disappeared.

"This first suspect is described as a white man, aged 28-35, clean shaven, with short brown hair combed and parted to the right.

"The later incident happened in Brookfield Road between 10pm and 11pm, when a man knocked on the door of an elderly woman and told her he was from the water board and needed to check her water. He then made a search of her house before asking for money.

"This suspect is described as a man with dark skin, about 50-years-old, wearing black clothing and a black woolly hat."

Police are still investigating an incident on April 26 in Highlands Avenue, in the Spinney Hill area, where a man called at the home of an elderly woman claiming he needed to come in to fix a water leak.

DC Sam Lyman from the police Burglary Team, said: “Many of these distraction burglaries are being committed by people pretending to be from the water board or similar trusted companies.

“Our advice is simple — unless you’re expecting someone as part of a pre-planned appointment, don’t feel the need to open the door to anyone.

“If someone is genuinely from the water board or a similar organisation they will be more than happy to show you identification or come back another time. Call the company to check and if you feel threatened then call the police immediately.

“I’d also like to take this opportunity to encourage people with elderly relatives to make them aware of this spate of crimes so that they are vigilant to anyone who may try and take advantage of them.”

Last year, local officers shared a video from Anglian Water on how to make sure staff calling unexpectedly are genuine after a spate of distraction burglaries in Northamptonshire.

Anyone with information about the latest incidents can call Northamptonshire Police on 101.