Scammers Get Into Vernon Home, Rip Off Elderly Couple: Cops

VERNON, CT — Scammers posing at utility workers ripped off a Vernon couple to the tune of several thousand dollars on Wednesday, police said.

At 4:54 p.m. Wednesday, two elderly people on Grove Street told Vernon police that two men stole items from their home after entering the dwelling under the guise that they were from the Connecticut Water Company, police said.

The men said they were there to do repairs on their plumbing after knocking on the rear door, according to a report.

The residents let the pair into the house with the man showing one of them into a bathroom and the woman bringing the other into the basement, according toa report. Police believe that, while the two residents were preoccupied, a third man snuck into the house and stole jewelry and cash from dresser drawers.

The men communicated via what looked like a “walkie talkie” type device, according to a report.

Neighbors said they saw a "gray or silver" sport utility vehicle or minivan leaving the residence southbound on Grove Street toward Hartford Turnpike, according to a report.

Surveillance equipment from a neighboring home shows what appears to be a minivan of that color leaving the area at the time of the incident, according to a report. Police released an image of the vehicle on Thursday morning.

The two suspects actually seen by the residents were both described as white males.

One of them was described as being "older in age," about 5-foot-7 and 200 pounds wearing black sunglasses, a dark blue jacket, a blue baseball hat, dark blue pants and dark brown sneakers. He apparently told the residents in converesation that he was "Greek," according to a report.

There was no further description on the second man and the third man was never seen, police said.

The items stolen were valued at "several thousand dollars," according to a report.

Anyone with information on the case can call Vernon Police at 860-872-9126. Callers may remain anonymous, police said.

Police on Thursday were reminding residents to verify the identity of anyone claiming to work for a utility before granting access to your home. Connecticut Water officials always maintain that workers carry distinct identification cards.

"This is especially important when the customer does not have an appointment and a worker arrives unannounced," police said. "Utility employees carry photo IDs, wear uniforms and drive company vehicles. Anyone who observes suspicious activity is encouraged to report it to police."

Connecticut Water released the following st atement on Thursday:

"Our hearts go out to the residents in Vernon who were victimized by thieves portraying themselves as Connecticut Water employees.

"Customer safety and service reliability is a high priority for Connecticut Water, which is why we have a customer protection program in place. We remind customers that our employees rarely knock on the door without an appointment, and we never ask for payment during an on-site visit.

"Further, our customer protection program e-mails a photo of our employee to the customer in advance of a scheduled appointment so they can have confidence that the person at the door is a real Connecticut Water employee.

"People should have a healthy level of skepticism before letting who says they are from a utility in their home. Connecticut Water employees have Company issued photo IDs, drive vehicles marked with the company logo, and wear company uniforms. Our employees are happy to provide ID and customers can call 1-800-286-5700 to verify that the person at the door is an employee and the nature of the work they are there to perform."

Connecticut Water has on its website a free fact sheet with 8 Tips on Imposter Protection (https://www.ctwater.com/media/1693/imposter-protection-8-tips-final4115pdf.pdf)

Photo via Vernon Polic e Department

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