Warnings after bogus police officers blamed for distraction burglaries

Mar 12 2008 by Robin Turner, Western Mail

HOUSEHOLDERS across South Wales have been warned to be on their guard after a spate of distraction burglaries involving bogus police officers.

There have been 20 such burglaries since February 1, including two on Monday this week.

Ten of these have been committed by men claiming to be police officers, either pretending to investigate crime or showing false concern for elderly home owners. They have got into houses and stolen thousands of pounds in cash.

The attacks have happened in Bridgend, Swansea, Neath Port Talbot, Pontypridd, Merthyr and Porthcawl.

Detective Superintendent Dale Ponting said yesterday, “What is extremely concerning is that in some of these recent incidents the burglars have been pretending to be police officers to gain the trust of their elderly victims and then take advantage of that trust. That is totally despicable and we are doing all we can to catch those responsible.”

Detectives are keeping an open mind about whether some of the incidents are linked.

So far, one man has been arrested and charged in Swansea and a woman has been arrested in Pontypridd.