Opportunity Knocks…but so do Criminals!

One of the ploys I’ve seen used for several decades now to gain entry into both homes and businesses is to simply pose as someone you are not. Sounds pretty simple, and it is, but it is also a HIGHLY effective way to gain people’s trust and thereby gain that access for immediate or later criminal activity.

In fact, the photo posted along with this blog was taken by a resident’s porch camera in one E. Dallas neighborhood a while back. This man was posing as someone from the city utilities department. A quick call by an alert resident to the city confirmed there was no such person working their area. He was an imposter!

One older couple I recently saw on the news were burglarized while they were in the backyard with the accomplices! The two original door-knockers pretended again to be from the city, inspecting trees that may be dangerously close to power lines. As it happened (talking about a coincidence) the couple had recently complained to the city about this very thing, so “naturally” they believed the two men at their door in hardhats and reflective vests. As they were in the backyard with their walkie talkies on, their 3rd accomplice in the front knew he had clearance to enter the home where he went straight to the bedroom to rob their valuables. The couple didn’t realize what had happened until later going back to their bedroom and seeing it rummaged through.

This technique has also been used by thieves in multi-tenant office buildings for years as well. Some dress up in suits pretending to visit on business or sales calls, others in outfits more akin to various service providers, but both with the same intent on “casing” the building for immediate or later burglary. They pop into office suites to see if some sound will alert its tenant to their entry. If so, they apologize often playing as though they had the “wrong suite” and move on without causing suspicion from that suite’s tenant. If there is no sound or no person to greet them, they know they can now or later take what they like. In case you didn’t know, this is one of the main reasons you see those NO SOLICITING signs inside or outside such buildings.

You simply cannot assume that what “seems to be obvious” actually is as it seems. What’s the worse that could happen from you placing a well-directed call to their supposed employer? And by the way, look the number up yourself, don’t take “their” word for it! The same holds true for those in multi-tenant office buildings calling property management and/or security to verify the credentials of those wandering the building.

The point is that yes, “opportunity knocks”, but so do criminals looking for their own “opportunity”.

To learn more about how you can better avoid such ploys, scams and imposters, contact one of our Trouble Spotters for a presentation to your HOA, crime watch, building lunch-and-learn, or similar. It’s how you can begin to “spot trouble ‘before’ trouble spots you!”

Jeff McKissack, Founder
Trouble Spotters