Praise for Rugby householder

Crime prevention advice - Police praise for Rugby householder

Police have praised a 73 year old woman who took heed of police safety advice and refused to allow a door step caller in to her house despite his insistence that he needed to come in to check the water supply.

The incident happened at 1.15pm on Thursday 14 April in Newdigate Road, Rugby when a male caller to the woman's house claimed he needed to turn off the water stop tap.

The woman, who had put the security chain on her door before answering it, asked the man for some identification but he told her that identification wasn't important as this was an emergency.

The woman refused to let the man, who was accompanied by a second male, into her house, despite his persistence that the matter was urgent.

After she closed the door on the man a check was made to Severn Trent Water who confirmed that none of their staff were working in the locality yesterday afternoon. They also confirmed that their staff all carry identification which they show on request.

The man who called at her home is described as being white male, aged approximately 30 years old and spoke with an Irish accent. He had brown hair, was of stocky build and was wearing a navy jacket.

PC Andy Marchi of the Northern Area Community Safety Unit said, "This lady did not feel comfortable about the way this man was being so insistent on being let in to house. She already had the security chain on the door, but when he declined to show her any identification she rightly refused to let him, or his colleague, into the house.

"Checks made with the organisation they claimed to be from showed they were not genuine water board officials and thankfully by taking a few precautionary steps it appears this woman has prevented herself from possibly becoming a victim of a distraction burglar."

Police remind householders to always use the Doorstep Code for uninvited callers

• Always put the security chain on the door before opening it
• Ask the caller who they are and where they are from
• Ask to see some form of identification - take the card from them and examine it
• Check with the company who they claim to be from, using a telephone number out of the telephone directory, not the number on the card, as this could be answered by an accomplice
• If you have any doubts tell the caller you want to make an appointment for them to call back at a more convenient time - when yu will be able to have a friend or relative with you. Genuine callers will understand and will be happy to comply with these arrangements
• You do not have to let a stranger into your home - even if they claim it is an emergency

The Northern Area Community Safety Department have produced a Nominated Neighbour notice which is available free from all the enquiry desks at all Warwickshire Police Stations. The card is held up at the window when uninvited callers come to your house and tels them that you do not open the door to strangers and advises them to contact your nominated neighbour who will go through the necessary checks before returning with them to your home.

PC Marchi explained, "The beauty of this scheme is that you do not even need to open the door or speak to the person at the door if you do not know them. Genuine callers understand the system and are happy to comply with the arrangements."