Scammers Continue to Find Their Way into Attleboro Homes

An Attleboro family nearly became the victims of a possible home theft Thursday morning.

Chrystal Swenson said her husband had taken the day off from work and was watching over their two younger boys while she was showering Thursday morning when two men walked into their yard from the backyard gate and attempted to enter their back door.

"My husband stopped them," Swenson said. "They said they were plumbers and asked if we were another house on another street."

Swenson said the two men told her husband that they were scheduled to do work for a customer on Falmouth Street.

"They left our backyard very quickly," she said. "I spoke to the neighbors at the address they claimed they were supposed to work and the neighbors had no plumbers scheduled to come to their home."

The couple called the and gave them a description of the two men.

"Officer Bechtel said this type of scam has been happening with people posing as National Grid employees, but generally only with older people," she said. 

The Attleboro Police recently warned the community about a where people are posing as city employees or contractors in an attempt to distract home owners and enter the home.

Police said there was a rise in "distraction thefts" and encouraged residents to contact police if they see anyone suspicious or are approached by people posing as city workers.

Police encourage homeowners to ask for proper identification or proof of work orders before allowing any strangers, who say they are city employees, to enter the home. 

Other reminders from the APD:

• a legitimate contractor will normally not show up unannounced and will carry appropriate identification.
• residents are encouraged to contact the utility company or contractor’s office to confirm they have a worker assigned in the area or at their home if they are not expecting workers to arrive.

Residents are encouraged to be watchful of elderly neighbors and are asked to contact police if they see any unusual activity at their neighbors' homes. Residents can contact the Attleboro Police Department at 508-222-1212 with questions.