Elderly Salisbury residents have money stolen during distraction burglary

Wiltshire Police have now issued advice to help other people not fall victim

Author: Jack DeeryPublished 30th Mar 2022

Two elderly Salisbury residents have had money and purses stolen during a distraction burglary.

At approximately 2.45pm on March 24th, a man dressed in a blue BUPA jacket attended a home of two people in their 70s and 80s in Nursery Road and claimed to be from the water board.

He explained that they had a leak in the property.

While he had them distracted, a second man entered the home and stolen a tin of money as well as purses.

The incident happened in Nursery Road

The man who called at the door was wearing a BUPA jacket, dark trousers and had dark hair.

Police want to hear from anyone who may have seen the man in the area around this time.

Anyone with information in relation to this incident should call 101 and quote crime reference number 54220030775.

HOW TO AVOID FALLING VICTIM

After this incident, Wiltshire Police have now issued some tips to help residents avoid it happening to them.

They say you should:

• Use your door viewer to see who’s there

• if you open the door put the chain on first

• always ask for ID and check it with the company before letting somebody into your home

• use the phone number advertised in the phone book or online, as the number on their identity card could be fake. For a utility company, call the customer service department. Close the door while you do this

• remember that genuine callers won’t mind checks. If you feel at all unsure, schedule a time for the caller to come back when a friend or relative is there

• for pre-planned appointments with utility companies, a password scheme can be set up. If you feel threatened or in danger by the presence of the caller, call 999.

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