Verify utility employee ID before letting them in
Over the past two months, there have been four incidents involving people posing as employees of the local water company in order to gain access to people's homes in the interest of robbing them. In each case the victim was a senior citizen, and criminals often see seniors as easy marks. Two similar incidents were also reported in neighboring Edison.

Posing as a representative of a legitimate enterprise, such as a utility or cable company, is a common tactic among thieves, many of whom go to an extreme level of detail in order to perpetuate this charade.

We urge all people who are suddenly and unexpectedly visited by anyone claiming to be from a public utility company: please verify their identities as such before allowing them access to your home and property. The legitimate ones will surely understand.

First and foremost, do not let anyone into your house without verifying their identification. Call the company they claim to be from first, and ask whether they are responsible for sending that person over. Do not allow the person to give you a phone number, since they may give you a fake number with an accomplice on the other end of the line. Find the phone number yourself - try the Internet or dial information. Failing that, call the police and ask them to verify. Most will be more than happy to send someone over to check a person out. Finally, try to get a good impression of what the person looks like in the event that you may need to file a police report later.

It is not our intention to frighten people about everyone who might come to visit, but basic precautions should be made when it comes to one's own security. We urge people to exercise caution.