Water board alert after Kettering burglary

That’s the message from police after an elderly woman had her purse stolen by a fake official in Kettering.

Police are appealing for witnesses after the distraction burglary in Alexandra Street last weekend.

At about 3.30pm on Sunday (29 May), a man called at a house and said he wanted to talk to the householder, who was in her 70s, about her water meter. She let him in and, shortly after he had gone, she noticed her purse was missing.

The man is described as being taller than 5ft 5in, with a chubby build, possibly of mixed race, with a tanned complexion. He was wearing a baseball type peaked cap and had a beard.

Officers are also advising people never to open the door to anyone they are not expecting, whoever they say they are. If anyone calls claiming to be from the ‘water board’, people are urged to be suspicious, not to let them in and to call Anglian Water on 03457 145 145 to check.

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

Witnesses to this incident, 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.