Bogus caller alert after Woodburn area theft

Around midday, a male caller claiming to be from the “Water Board” and investigating a leak in the area, gained entry to the home of an older member of the community.

The man, police added, left after around 20 minutes, however, the next day the female resident discovered a sum of money had been taken from a handbag.

The male involved is described as five feet four inches tall, slim with short dark hair and was wearing smart but casual clothing.

Detective Inspector David Skelly of Newtownabbey CID advised: “Check the identity of callers before opening the door. Ensure that back doors are locked before answering or opening the front door. If unsure about the caller, do not open the door and do not let them enter your home.

“Ask all callers for proof of ID. Inspect their credentials carefully and ensure the photo is theirs. Genuine callers will be glad to show you their identification and will not mind waiting until you have checked that they are who they say they are.”

DI Skelly pointed out that the QUICK CHECK scheme can be used to check the identity of callers by telephoning Freephone 0800 013 22 90.

He added: “A call centre operator will answer that number and can quickly check with any service provider if the person at the door is a genuine caller from that particular company. Do not feel pressured to just let any caller in, if there’s any doubt - keep them out.

“Neighbours can also play a vital part in helping protect the more vulnerable in their community against this kind of crime. Look out for suspicious vehicles and people and report all suspicious activity to police. You can contact police on the non-emergency number 101 or in an emergency dial 999.”