Bogus police on the prowl

1:44pm Sunday 18th November 2007

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POLICE are warning people to be on their guard after a spate of burglaries in York by someone pretending to be a police officer.

In the latest distraction burglary in the city, two men pretending to be plain- clothes police officers asked an elderly man to show them around his home, and stole a purse.

Sergeant Andy Haigh said: "There have been a number of distraction burglaries around the city recently and the ones we are really concerned about involve someone claiming to be a police officer. Someone has said they are a police officer and even shown people a card saying constabulary' on it.

"They are targeting vulnerable elderly people.

"There have been a series of this type of burglaries across the city. A few of them were where the burglars said they were from different companies such as Dyno-Rod and British Gas. Now there have been some where they are saying they are police officers and they have produced a card."

The most recent incident happened in School Lane, Fulford, at about 4.15pm on Wednesday.

Two men are believed to have arrived at the address in a grey estate car and asked the elderly man if they could look round his house.

The man believed they were plain clothes police officers because they showed him the fake identification.

Both thieves are described as being about 25 years old. One was wearing a rugby-style top and the other was wearing a dark sweater.

Sgt Haigh said he believed the thieves had probably come from outside the city to commit the crime.

He said: "We are advising residents to check police officers have warrant cards before they let them in.

"It will have a photograph of the officer on it and details of North Yorkshire Police.

"If they are still not sure then the officer will be quite happy for them to phone the control room on 0845 60 60 247 to check that the officer exists."

He said all officers would also be able to give residents their collar number.

Anyone with information about the School Lane incident is asked to phone Sgt Haigh on 0845 60 60 247.

Meanwhile, in East Yorkshire, police are also asking residents to be vigilant after reports of men gaining entry to homes by claiming to be checking water faults.

Two men arrived at the home of an elderly man in Market Weighton, at 2.25pm on Wednesday, claiming they were from a water company and needed to check the water at the premises.

One suspect went into the bathroom with the man, while the second man entered the property and carried out an untidy search of the house.

The first man is described as white, of thin build, aged between 18 and 25, 5ft 5ins tall, with short dark brown hair. He was wearing dark trousers and a light grey top.

The second man is also described as white, aged between 18 and 25, of a thin build, and may have had an Irish accent. He was wearing a dark top and trousers.

Anyone who may be able to identify the men, or who may have seen them, is asked to phone Humberside police on 0845 60 60 222.