Money stolen as residents reminded to stay alert

Money stolen as residents reminded to stay alert

We are reminding residents to stay vigilant when answering the door to cold callers after a woman in her 70s lost a large amount of money in a suspected distraction burglary.

On Monday 3 November, two unknown men knocked on the front door of a home in Featherstone, saying they were fixing external water pipes.

The men told the woman that she needed to run the tap until the water turned blue, as they had put a special dye in the water system.

Whilst the woman did this, the men entered her home. An envelope with a large amount of money inside was stolen.

Our investigation is ongoing and anyone with any information that might help our investigation is asked to contact us. Call 101, quoting incident 676 of 3 November, or use Live Chat on our website.

There are several things you can do to prevent distraction burglary. Don’t be afraid to ask questions about anyone at your door – genuine callers won’t mind. Always remember 'if in doubt, keep them out':

Use your door viewer to see who’s there

If you open the door put the chain on first

Always ask for ID and check it with the company before letting somebody into your home

Use the phone number advertised in the phone book or online, as the number on their identity card could be fake. For a utility company, call the customer service department. Close the door while you do this

If you feel at all unsure, schedule a time for the caller to come back when a friend or relative is there

For pre-planned appointments with utility companies, a password scheme can be set up

For more advice on protecting your home from crime, visit Protecting your home from crime | Crime prevention | Staffordshire Police.

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Message Sent By
Sarah Garner
(Staffordshire Police, Communications Officer, Staffordshire)