A gang of men posing as council workers are knocking on doors and ransacking people’s homes in Rotherhithe and surrounding areas, police have told the News.
Police are appealing for information as they hunt down the suspects, described as white and aged 40 to 55, and urging the public to be vigilant.
The brazen thieves, who police said distract victims while accomplices burgle their homes, are understood to have hit multiple properties since late October.
In a Facebook post written on October 27, one local resident wrote: “Three men pretending to be from Southwark Council came to my mum and dad’s around 1pm today.
“They went through everything and took some jewellery and a bank card. They were all tall, white with hard hats and high vis jackets on in their thirties and wore face masks… police have been called!”
And last month on a separate occasion the News reported how a man masquerading as a council plumber charmed his way into an elderly couple’s Camberwell home, stealing highly sentimental jewellery. It is currently unclear whether the incident is related.
The suspects, wearing mock-up workmen gear, will knock on doors claiming to be from the local council or a water provider, according to the police.
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Without presenting ID, they claim to be investigating a leak in an upstairs or adjoining property, before making off with people’s possessions.
While the men, who police say have English or Irish accents, operate in groups of three or four, only one will usually knock on the door.
Video footage released by the Met shows a face-mask-wearing suspect approaching a property, before flinching and covering his face once realising he’s on camera.
The terrifying spate of burglaries has sent shockwaves through the local community, who have shared their disgust at the crimes.
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One person wrote on Facebook: “It sickens me that there’s nasty people like that. Please tell your elderly family members not to answer to anyone… if they don’t have appointments.”
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Detective Sergeant Will Wigzell, from the Met’s Central South Command Burglary Unit, said: “We are currently investigating a series of distraction burglaries in Southwark and Lambeth in which a group of men are posing as local council workers to gain entry to homes across both boroughs. Once inside, victims reported that one suspect distracted them while another or others burgled the house.
“I am asking members of the public to be particularly vigilant when allowing workmen or those posing as council workers into their home. If you believe someone is not who they are purporting to be and they match the above description, then dial 999 when safe to do so. Where possible take particular note of any vehicle registration and suspect descriptions and relay this to the call handler at the earliest opportunity.”
“We are releasing images and footage of two men we would like to speak to in connection with the incidents. Anyone with relevant information is asked to contact 101 quoting reference 5144/24Oct.
“Crimes of this nature are taken seriously and I want to re-assure the public that this appeal is part of a wider investigation which is fast-paced and on-going.”
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The Met Police have issued advice on how people can protect themselves from distraction burglaries:
· Use your door viewer to see who’s there
· If you open the door put the chain on first
· Always ask for ID and check it with the company before letting somebody into your home
· Use the phone number advertised online, as the number on their identity card could be fake. For a utility company, call the customer service department. Close the door while you do this
· Remember that genuine callers won’t mind checks. If you feel at all unsure, schedule a time for the caller to come back when a friend or relative is there
· For pre-planned appointments with utility companies, a password scheme can be set up