A knock at the door is one thing. Finding out that strangers may be messing with your home's water lines is another.
Police in West Caldwell, New Jersey, are warning residents after reports of door-to-door scammers tampering with water service lines, apparently to gain access to homes.
Here's what to know
The West Caldwell Police Department issued an urgent alert after reports that scammers going door to door may have interfered with residents' water service lines, according to News 12 New Jersey.
Officials said the warning targeted homeowners and that anyone presenting themselves as a worker should be treated with caution until their identity is verified.
Residents were told not to let unfamiliar people onto their property or into their homes unless they have officially confirmed their identity and professional credentials.
Police also said that if residents suspect someone is falsely posing as a utility worker, they should not confront that person. Instead, residents should report suspicious activity immediately to the West Caldwell Police, especially if someone appears to be accessing or altering utility service.
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More background
Authorities were concerned not only about strangers going door to door in West Caldwell, but also about reports that they may have tried to "access, alter, or tamper with" water lines connected to homes.
A water line is part of an essential household service. Any attempt to interfere with it can create confusion, pressure residents to act quickly, and potentially give scammers a reason to ask for entry or access to a yard, basement, or another part of the property.
The West Caldwell Police Department also told residents to stay vigilant, protect their property, and spread the warning throughout the community.
Homeowners are urged to avoid letting anyone in who makes claims that they are there to inspect water service.
What can be done?
Authorities repeated that homeowners should not allow unfamiliar individuals into their homes or onto their property in West Caldwell until their identity and professional credentials have been officially verified.
Police also highlighted a specific warning sign for homeowners: anyone attempting to reach or interfere with water service lines.
If a person claiming to be a utility worker seems suspicious, the department said residents should avoid confronting that individual and should instead contact the West Caldwell Police right away.
The alert also asks residents to let neighbors, friends, and family members know.
Where can I learn more?
West Caldwell isn't the only place where homeowners have had to watch for suspicious activity tied to their property. Officials and residents elsewhere have dealt with towing fraud after wildfires, illegal tree-cutting schemes, and disputes over unauthorized water use and drainage.
• In California, police warned that post-fire towing scams were targeting vulnerable residents.
• Homeowners found illegal tree-cutting crews carving through neighborhoods under a broader fraud scheme.
• A landscaping change left one yard swamped when runoff drainage crossed a property line.
• Another homeowner discovered an invasive water line running where it did not belong.
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