300412 - Distraction Burglary Warning - East Riding of Yorkshire
POLICE in East Yorkshire are reminding householders of the need to keep their homes secure and safe from intruders after a number of distraction burglaries have occurred across the area.
Since the beginning of the year we have had four distraction burglaries in the East Riding.

In Beverley at a sheltered housing flat, on Wednesday 01 February a lady in her 50’s answered the door to a woman who claimed she was representing the 'deaf' and was selling items for that charity. The victim’s front door opened straight into a living room area, the victim told the woman that she didn’t want to purchase anything, but before the victim could close the door the woman asked if she could use the toilet.

The woman was allowed into the flat to use the toilet and after a few minutes the female left the property. The following morning the victim couldn’t find her purse in her handbag. It is believed the woman purporting to be from a charity may have taken the purse.


In a separate incident in Beverley, the following day (Thursday 02 February 2012) as a bed ridden 89-year-old man was in his ground floor flat a man knocked on the door. The elderly mans front door was closed but unlocked, and he shouted for the person to come in.

A man entered and came to the bedroom door, he told the victim he had won a raffle but he only had a £20 note and needed some change.

The victim told the stranger where he kept his money. The man entered the living room and left, with no further words exchanged.

Approximately half an hour later the victim managed to get out of bed to the front room to discover his wallet and a large amount of cash missing.


Another incident involved an address on Well Lane, Willerby on Thursday 22 March 2012.
A man entered the house of an elderly housebound man via a side door, which had been left insecure for his carer who attends daily.

The man walked inside the house introduced himself as working for the water board but wore no uniform or offered no identification. The bogus caller advised the elderly man he needed to check the boiler and water supply.

The elderly man took the bogus caller into the kitchen, where he asked the elderly man to turn on the water whilst he alleged he was going to flush to toilet in the bathroom.

The man left the kitchen, entering the living room and taking the elderly mans wallet containing £220 in cash.

The man re-attended the kitchen, telling the victim somebody will contact him regarding the results. The victim later discovered his wallet was stolen.


In a separate incident, in Goole on Wednesday 18 January 2012 a man aged between 25 and 30-years-old entered the victim's property on the pretence of checking her water supply in the kitchen, after he had told the home owner they had found water contamination outside in the main supply.

The victim asked for ID but the man stated as it was an emergency and he had not brought any with him. The victim let him into his ground floor flat taking him to the kitchen area.

The man asked the victim to switch the tap on, the man was in the kitchen for about 15 minutes with the water running, he claimed everything was fine and left the flat. The victim later went to check her purse and discovered that £105.00 in cash and her visa debit card had been stolen.

Detective Inspector Paul Kirby from the Serious and Acquisitive Crime Team at Beverley Police Station said: “Most burglars are not master criminals – they’re opportunists. Please follow some simple steps to ensure you and your neighbours are not victims.”

“Fighting Door Step Crime, also known as distraction burglaries is a bold and deceitful crime, often targeting the elderly or vulnerable.

“Bogus callers trick their way into people’s homes to steal money and valuables while the householders attention is elsewhere. Most callers are genuine and mean you no harm but bogus callers can often seem very plausible and will try to fool you.  I have released a few tips to keep you safe:"

If you’re not sure who is at your door, don’t open it! Check the identity of the caller by calling the company they are purporting to be from. Use the telephone numbers listed in your local directory or provided independently by your service provider. Do not use any telephone numbers provided by the caller, they may be bogus!

Telephone a neighbour or friend nearby to come along and check out the caller before you open the door to them.

Some areas have Neighbourhood Watch or Nominated Neighbour Schemes you can sign up to. Check with your local Neighbourhood Policing Team to find out if there is one in your area.

Many utility service providers like gas electricity and water, provide password schemes or hotline numbers for customers to call, to check the identity of callers before opening the door. Speak to your utility provider.

Don’t keep large quantities of cash at home; put it in the bank or post office where it is safe.

Keep doors locked and windows secure at all times.

If somebody asks for your help, needs to make a telephone call, has lost a ball in your garden, needs a drink or requests a pen and paper for example, refer them to a younger neighbour or assist them through a closed door. Or call a friend or neighbour to come and assist.


If you suspect a bogus caller has visited you, even if you didn’t let them in, call the police straight away. We need to know!