The South Orange Police Department issued the following warning to residents on March 12:
Residents should take note that there have been reports of individuals approaching homes throughout the surrounding towns and posing as legitimate emergency workers claiming affiliation to a water department, a gas department or like enterprise in order to gain access into a residence. Once inside the residence the actor and or actors will distract the resident and request they assist them in completing a task while they (the actors) go to another room or floor of the home and remove items. These criminals will often seek homes inhabited by elderly individuals. Residents should advise all of their family members and neighbors of this criminal ploy. The POLICE DEPARTMENT MUST BE NOTIFIED IMMEDIATELY of any suspicious individuals approaching any homes or individuals. As a reminder, it is the police officers responding to the scene that will check the individual or individuals credentials to verify if in fact there is any legitimacy emergency.
