Newington police are issuing a warning after two elderly women became victims of burglars posing as water company workers.
Police responded to an elderly woman’s home on Wednesday to investigate the second of two similar burglaries this month.
The woman told police a man who identified himself as an Metropolitan District Commission, or MDC, employee knocked on her door, so she let him in.
As the imposter entered the home, two more men showed up and he told the victim that his “team” was going to conduct water tests.
The men were in the house for around 20 minutes before leaving through a side door and did not speak to the woman, who was mobile enough to follow them through the house.
Soon after the men left, the woman noticed that money and jewelry were missing.
One of the men was heavyset and between 40 and 50 years old. He had dark hair and was wearing a brown shirt, dark brown pants and what appeared to be a MDC employee badge attached to his shirt.
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Police investigated a similar incident at another home on July 15.
In that case, a man knocked on the door of an elderly woman’s house and identified himself as a MDC employee.
The victim allowed the man inside, but followed him from room to room. The man turned on the water as he traveled through the house, then abruptly left. Nothing was taken in that incident, police said.
The man was around 5-feet-7, had a medium build and was wearing a black uniform.
MDC did not have representatives in the area at the time of either incident, police said.
Earlier this month, MDC issued a warning about suspected imposters and offered tips for residents to avoid becoming victims of scammers.
- They said MDC field employees wear clothing and drive vehicles clearly marked with the MDC logo.
- Ask for identification from anyone who comes to their door. All MDC employees have photo identification badges and will gladly display them upon request.
- The policy is “No Identification - No Entry.”
- If someone comes to your door claiming to be from the water company and you do not have a previously scheduled appointment, do not allow them in your home until calling the MDC Command Center at 860-278-7850, extension 3600, to verify their identity.
- If you have any doubt about who the person is, their motives, or the authenticity of their credentials, do not allow them in your home. Then call the police.
Anyone with information about the MDC imposter distraction-type burglaries should call the Newington Police Department at (860) 666-8445.
