Gardai warn about bogus callers

Gardaí in Tullamore are warning people, especially those living alone, to be extra vigilant after two bogus callers attempted to burgle a house in Tullamore last week. The incident occurred last Thursday June 10, at around 2.30pm on Davitt Street on the Kilbeggan Road. Two men called to a house and said they were from a water company and needed to do work at the back of the house. "One distracted the owner while the other went through the house," explained Sgt Ollie Baker from Tullamore Garda Station. "They didn't gain any items but left the owner very distressed. They had no ID and came in on a pretence and were in the living room before she knew it," he said. "(But) She knew that something was up and they made good their escape at that point," Sgt Baker told the Offaly Independent. The woman, who lives by herself, was "shocked and traumatised" by the incident, but luckily she was not injured or threatened by the men. Gardaí in Tullamore have yet to locate these people and are appealing for witnesses who may have seen anything suspicious in that area last Thursday between 2pm and 3pm, or if someone has experienced a similar episode, to contact the gardaí. They are warning people to remain vigilant. "If there are any suspicious callers to your house, turn them away and inform the gardaí," said Sgt Baker, who said that there was only one way to prevent these bogus callers from getting into your home. "If someone is calling to perform any service works - water, gas, electricity, council - on a house, just insist on seeing ID and if they don't have ID then don't let them in, turn them away." Sgt Baker added that neighbours needed to keep on eye on each other, especially the elderly and those living alone. "It's important that there's a good, strong, vibrant community and a community we can all rely on to keep an eye on neighbours." Sgt Baker said that locally, there hasn't been a dramatic increase in these types of incidents during the recession and said that bogus callers or con men do, and will, exist. "They do their best in two or three minutes to try and burgle the house. The MO is very familiar to us at certain times. These people would be very convincing when they arrive at the door." The incident comes just weeks after the Offaly Independent reported of an opportunistic burglary in Edenderry, where a group or individual entered a house and stole jewellery while the sole occupant, a woman, was outside mowing her lawn.