Fake water board caller tries to talk his way into Putney home

A man claiming to be a water board meter-reader turned up at a Chelverton Road home last week, asking to be let in to take a reading.

Thames Water does not send anyone to read meters at the door. Customers submit their own readings, the same as with any other utility, and PCSO Eva Knedlova of the Thamesfield Safer Neighbourhood Team, who sent the alert, said the “water board” line is one distraction burglars have used for years. She suggested this version of the trick may be doing the rounds now because Thames Water is installing mandatory water meters, giving a fake caller a fresh excuse to knock.

The alert gives only one description: a tall, thin man, described as non-white.

Thamesfield police have now warned residents twice this year about a stranger talking their way to the door. In May, Thamesfield police warned about the same trick using fake locksmith stickers to mark out empty properties on Dryad Street, Felsham Road and Bangalore Street.

Separately, a resident’s camera on Dryburgh Road caught a man trying car door handles at around 3.20am on 22 July, working his way from one driveway to a neighbour’s. Vehicle crime dropped as a ward priority on 20 May with several streets flagged as hotspots, including Lacy Road, Felsham Road, Enterprise Way, and Weimar Street. Dryburgh Road was not previously on the list. The next review of the Thamesfield ward’s priority list will be in September.

The crackdown that followed February’s numbers brought monthly vehicle offences down from a winter peak to single figures by April.

What to do if someone knocks

• Verify before you let anyone in. Ask for ID, close the door, then call the organisation back using a number from the phone book or its official website, never a number the caller gives you.
• If in doubt, ask for a callback. A genuine official or tradesperson will not object to coming back when a friend, relative or neighbour can be there too.
• Register for direct alerts. Thamesfield’s Safer Neighbourhood Team posts these warnings through MetEngage; residents can sign up directly rather than wait for someone else to pass them on.
• Report it. Suspicious callers or activity: call 101, or report anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. An emergency in progress: call 999.

Had a knock like this, or seen anything odd on Dryburgh Road? Get in touch and let us know.