Nassau County, NY - July 31st, 2014 - The Nassau County Police Department is advising residents that individuals are perpetrating a series of burglaries and scams throughout Nassau County. In recent cases, individuals may have posed as National Grid employees or water company workers.
The “modus operendi” of these criminals is to portray a utility employee, surveyor or a contractor, approach the homeowners at their residences and engage them in distracting conversation. The subject diverts the homeowners into an area of their home or rear yard, providing a means for an accomplice(s) to surreptitiously enter the home and commit a burglary.
There are several things residents can do to protect themselves from being victimized by these individuals:
- Make sure your doors and windows are locked even when you are at home.
- Set your home burglar alarm system every time you leave your house even if it’s for a short period of time.
- Lock valuables in a safe and don’t leave cash and jewelry in a conspicuous place such as the bedrooms, kitchen, or counter.
- Ask for proper identification of individuals before you allow them onto your property or into your home, especially if you are not expecting anyone. Any utility employee will have photo identification.
- If you are unsure of a person’s credentials, contact the agency they are claiming to be affiliated with and ask if they have employees working in their area.
Residents should report any suspicious activity immediately by calling 911.