Bogus home callers from thieves posing as water firm workers have caused concern.
Britain's water firms have warned the public against rogue traders posing as their employees.
According to a new report from UK Water, around 35 "bogus caller" crimes - which see the uniformed thieves tricking householders into giving them access to homes - are reported each day. Moreover, the research estimates that nine in ten of these incidents remain unreported, due to people being too embarrassed at being fooled to make the incidents public.
As a result, water providers along with the government and the police have announced the launch of a nationwide awareness campaign in order to raise awareness of the problem, the BBC reports.
79-year-old Don Pape, who was tricked by criminals pretending to be employees of his local water firm, told the broadcaster that the thieves had claimed that a water pipe nearby had burst prior to stealing thousands of pounds from his home. "Unbeknown to me while he was running the water [in my home], two of his friends went upstairs and ransacked my wardrobes," he said.
"They grabbed my wrists and rifled through my pockets."
The new awareness campaign, entitled "Knock Knock! Who's there? Be stranger aware!", is to recommend people to use door chains and spy holes in order to protect themselves against the bogus callers.
Compare Gas & Electricity Suppliers via money.co.uk
