Residents are being urged to be vigilant over who they let in their homes after a report of a man gaining access to a property in Margate after claiming he was from Southern Water.
The man managed to enter a property in Argyle Drive after saying the new tenant owed money and if it wasn’t paid, their water would be disconnected.
He then went on to ask ‘odd’ questions of the occupier and asked for her personal details.
He backed out of the property when the woman’s partner came down the stairs.
He provided an ‘old battered’ Southern Water card and told the couple that if anyone else attended the property, to say he had already been.
The man is described as being in his late 40’s or early 50’s, 5ft 7″, brown/grey short hair, small and overweight. He was wearing navy blue trousers and a blue body warmer and carrying a notebook.
A Kent Police spokesperson said: “Kent Police was contacted on Tuesday 31 January and it was reported that a man claiming to be from a water company had entered a house in Argyle Avenue, Margate at around 1.30pm that day.
“The homeowner became suspicious of the man and he left with nothing reported missing.
“Enquiries are ongoing to establish the circumstances surrounding the incident and homeowners in the area are advised to be vigilant.
“If someone knocks at your front door claiming to be from a company, first check their ID. If you’re not happy, don’t let them in.
“Never call the phone number on their ID card to check them out. Ask the person to wait outside, shut the door and find the company number on the internet. If they’re genuine, they’ll understand.”
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