Police are reminding residents to be wary of callers pretending to be from utility companies who turn up unexpectedly on your doorstep asking to enter your home.
The advice follows reports of two incidents on Tuesday, 12 January when residents acted on police advice by keeping out callers who failed to produce any valid ID.
The advice follows reports of two incidents on Tuesday, 12 January when residents acted on police advice by keeping out callers who failed to produce any valid ID.
In Royston Avenue, Wallington, a resident answered the door to a man wearing a hi-vis jacket at 14:40hrs. The caller asked to check the gas meter but his entry was declined after he failed to produce ID. The suspect is described as a white man, aged early 30s, wearing a dark blue tracksuit and a yellow, hi-vis jacket.
There was a similar incident in Grove Lane, Coulsdon, earlier the same day at 11:20hrs. The suspect is described as a white man, aged 30, wearing a polo shirt and dark trousers.
Police advise that ID should always be requested even if callers are wearing hi-vis jackets which can be purchased cheaply by anyone from DIY stores or online.
If someone knocks on your door and claims to be from a particular business or organisation then:
- do not let them in
- put your door chain on (if you have one) before opening the door or speak to them through the door
- ask them for their ID card but do not phone the number on their ID card
- find the number from your telephone directory or from your bill and phone that number. If they are genuine, they will not mind waiting outside
- if you think the person at your door is trying to commit a crime, call police on 999 immediately
It would be especially helpful if residents could check safely whether the caller has a vehicle in the street and to take the vehicle's registration number.
Police would rather come out and check that everything is OK, than to find someone who has become a victim of crime.
There was a similar incident in Grove Lane, Coulsdon, earlier the same day at 11:20hrs. The suspect is described as a white man, aged 30, wearing a polo shirt and dark trousers.
Police advise that ID should always be requested even if callers are wearing hi-vis jackets which can be purchased cheaply by anyone from DIY stores or online.
If someone knocks on your door and claims to be from a particular business or organisation then:
- do not let them in
- put your door chain on (if you have one) before opening the door or speak to them through the door
- ask them for their ID card but do not phone the number on their ID card
- find the number from your telephone directory or from your bill and phone that number. If they are genuine, they will not mind waiting outside
- if you think the person at your door is trying to commit a crime, call police on 999 immediately
It would be especially helpful if residents could check safely whether the caller has a vehicle in the street and to take the vehicle's registration number.
Police would rather come out and check that everything is OK, than to find someone who has become a victim of crime.