West Hartford Among Towns Cited In Utility 'Impostor' Warnings

WEST HARTFORD, CT — Though police have no difinitive proof that they are related, authorities in at least three towns — Manchester, Vernon and West Hartford — are investigating cases of people impersonating utility workers in an effort to rip off residents.

All three incidents took place Wednesday — Jan. 9 — according to reports.

Police in Manchester are investigating a case in which two people went to a home on Pine Street, saying they were from the Manchester Water Department and needed to run the water inside the home to "check the meter," a report indicates.

The resident remained with both and there was no other criminal element to the incident, police said. A Manchester police spokesman said the resident was not able to give a distinct description of the two and the case remains under investigation.

That same day, the Metropolitan District Commission sent out an advisory in West Hartford for customers to be cautious of "individuals posing as water company employees in an attempt to enter residential homes."

The case in question involved a home in the vicinity of Cumberland Road in West Hartford, the advisory said.

The Vernon incident was much more elaborate and involved several thousand dollars worth of belongings being stolen from an ederly couple.

At 4:54 p.m. Wednesday, two elderly people on Grove Street in Vernon told 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.

Video 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.

Vernon police said they were "talking with other agencies" to see if the incidents are linked. Manchester police confirmed conversations with Vernon investigators, but added nothing has been officially linked.

Authorities were reminding residents this week that real utility workers carry real, distinct identification badges and drive distinct vehicles and would never sneak to the back door of a residence.

They were also cautioning residents about letting strangers in their homes without such identification.

A Connecticut Water Company spokeesman said no other indicents were reported aside from Vernon.

Photo Via Vernon Police

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