Four men burgle Northamptonshire house following '˜water board' scam

Between 3pm and 3.40pm, a man called at the victim’s house in Dryleys Court, Goldings, Northampton claiming to be from the ‘water board’ and saying he needed to check the water supply due to a problem with the outside pipes.

After letting him in, the victim heard noises upstairs and shortly afterwards saw three other men running out of the property.

The man who called at the house is described as white, 20 to 30-years-old, clean shaven with and olive complexion, light brown eyes and short brown hair. He had an athletic build and was wearing a long-sleeve T-shirt and a yellow rubber glove on his right hand.

The other three men were also white, of a similar age and wearing long-sleeve T-shirts.

Officers are appealing for information and are urging people never to open the door to anyone they are not expecting, whoever they say they are, and are asking people share the following advice with family and friends:

-Make sure you can see who is at the door before you answer it – and if you don’t know who it is, don’t answer it.

-Where possible fit a spy-hole to identify callers. Alternatively talk to them through an adjacent window.

-Don’t feel pressured into opening the door. Don’t feel you are being rude, genuine callers won’t mind. If you’re not sure, don’t open the door.

-Set up passwords with your utility companies – genuine callers will need to recite this password to you.

-Don’t use telephone numbers on ID cards – if the person isn’t genuine the ID and the telephone number won’t be either. Obtain telephone numbers direct from the phone directory. Alternatively make a list of your important numbers and keep them near the phone.

-If someone is knocking on the door saying they are the police, call 101 and check the identity with the police control room. In an emergency call 999.

-Look out for those who are vulnerable within your family or neighbourhood.

-Anyone who has suspicions or concerns that distraction burglars are operating in their neighbourhood or targeting someone they know, should call 101 or the dedicated doorstep crime number on 0345 23 07 702.

Witnesses to this burglary, or anyone with information, are asked to call Northamptonshire Police on 101. Alternatively, they can call the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.