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One occurred around 4 o’clock Monday, when the man rang a doorbell on Welcome Road, off Market Street, in Saddle Brook.
Posing as a utility worker, he said “there was a water main break and needed to enter the home to check the home’s water supply pipe in the basement,” Saddle Brook Police Chief Robert Kugler told CLIFFVIEW PILOT.
The clever homeowner “immediately closed the door and called police,” the chief said.
The would-be bandit, who immediately took off, is described as a middle-aged, light-skinned, with dark, short-to-medium-length hair and wearing dark clothing.
No car was spotted, the chief said.
DO NOT, under any circumstances, let anyone into our home without first confirming who they are.
That means keeping your door locked and contacting either the specific utility or company the person claims to work for — or calling the police non-emergency number directly.
A genuine professional will have no problem with it.
A scammer will turn tail.
Again, keep your door locked, but notice whatever you can and dial 911 immediately.
If you have elderly parents: Warn them.
“Unfortunately, it’s a numbers game,” Kugler told CLIFFVIEW PILOT. “The more they do it, the more they have a chance of finding a victim.”
To help nip it in the bud, the chief said, citizens shouldn’t hesitate to call police in their respective towns if anyone shady comes to their door — or if they see anyone suspicious who clearly doesn’t belong in their neighborhood.
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