Police are again reminding the Canberra community about conmen using scams to gain entry to homes after receiving a number of recent reports.
ACT Policing has received several reports of suspicious behaviour of late, throughout Canberra, of men of different descriptions offering a range of services to gain entry to their homes and obtain money. The victims targeted are generally elderly people.
The offenders are offering to clean gutters, paint numbers on the drive way or posing as a plumber. In some circumstances they are being paid but not providing the service or gaining entry to the home and while asking the person to turn on the taps or flush the toilet, the offenders are taking handbags and purses and fleeing.
Station Sergeant Harry Hains from ACT Policing’s Crime Prevention said there are precautions people can take to minimise this happening to them.
“If you do not know the person, do not let them into your home,” Station Sergeant Hains said.
“If you have a security screen door, keep this locked and talk with the person through the screen or if you have a security chain, open the door with it still engaged. If you don’t want or need your number painted, gutters cleaned or there is nothing wrong with your toilet politely decline, then close and lock your door.”
If you have been a victim of this scam or something similar, please contact ACT Policing on 131 444. Take down as many details as you can about the person as this will assist us in identifying them.”
Anyone who has seen suspicious activity in their neighborhood should contact ACT Policing Operations on 131 444.
For further tips on home security can be found at http://www.police.act.gov.au/
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