Would-be burglar targets Northampton pensioner by claiming he needed to fix water leak

Police issued a warning to beware strangers knocking at the door after an attempted burglary at a pensioner's home in Northampton at the weekend.

Officers revealed a man called at the property late on Sunday night (April 26) claiming to be from a water company.

The would-be crook told her there was a water leak next door and he needed to enter the property to fix it. But he ran off after the alert pensioner called the police instead.

A spokesman for Northamptonshire Police said: "A man called at the home of an elderly woman in Highlands Avenue, Northampton, between 10.20pm and 10.50pm stating he was from the water board. He said there was a water leak from next door and implied he needed to come in to fix it.

"Fortunately on this occasion, the woman didn’t believe the man and instead of letting him into her home, she called the police.

"The offender was white, between 50 and 60-years-old, about 5ft 6in, of a stocky build, with a round face. He was wearing a dark woolly hat and a dark coat.

"if anyone has information about this or may have seen a man matching that description in the area, please call us on 101 quoting reference number 20000212916."

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.

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