Local residents warned about bogus police officers
Residents have been advised to be cautious of bogus officials, following two reported incidents in Barnsley and Doncaster.
At around 11.10pm on Monday 18 January, it is reported that two men knocked on the door of a property in Acre Road, Cudworth.
When the resident answered the door, the men claimed to be undercover police officers with a warrant to search his home.
The resident challenged the men, saying he would phone the police to check their identities, at which point they left.
Officers believe this incident may be linked to a similar report from a few days earlier, on Friday 15 January, when two men knocked on the door of a property in Furnival Road, Doncaster.
The men reportedly told the woman who answered the door that they were CID officers investigating burglaries in the area.
They made no attempt to enter the property, but left a short time later.
Detective Inspector Mark Monteiro from the Force Crime Unit said: “These incidents are concerning and we are keen to hear from anyone else who may have experienced a similar incident.
“The victims in each case have been suspicious enough to phone police and have not let these men enter their homes.
“This is to be applauded and I’d urge any homeowner who has concerns about an official at their door to make whatever checks they need to in order to feel safe and reassured.
“Remember to close and lock your door while you phone a company or organisation to check someone’s identity. This is entirely reasonable and if an official is legitimate, this should not cause them any issues.
“We are working hard to identify these two men and have carried out house-to-house enquiries in the local communities, as well as exploring any available CCTV footage.”