Series of burglaries in south-east London by fake Thames Water engineers

Employees of the BKU State Public Enterprise discovered that fraudsters were approaching people's homes, claiming to be doing work and requesting access to the property.

Thames Water and Met Police have given some advice on how to avoid a visit from rogue engineers.

Residents are encouraged to check the employee's ID at the door and the employee's name, and their subsidiary must be verified along with the availability of a company vehicle.

The worker may be asked to wait in a car or outside the home while the company makes contact to verify the person's identity.

Thames Water also said that if homeowners do not expect a visit or have doubts about the legitimacy of the workers, they should not let them in.

To further protect customers, Thames Water uses a doorstep password system where the customer will be asked to provide their name and address and choose an eight-character password that they can request from a worker at their door.

You can sign up for it online.

If a visitor claims to be from Thames Water, homeowners can call 0800 316 9800 to double check that their visitor is legitimate.

For more information on spotting fake subscribers, thames water has useful tools on its website: https://t.co/c7RLAZFocU pic.twitter.com/9qbPbDfHTX

– Lewisham MPS (@MPSLewisham) January 12, 2024

A spokesman for the Metropolitan Police said: “Officers at SE BCU discovered thefts committed by criminals posing as Thames Water engineers.

“These criminals have been known to approach homes nearby, claiming that there is work going on and that they need to check the facilities in your home.

“Tips for detecting legitimacy include checking the employee's ID at the door, confirming the names of the employees and the company they are from, and looking for a company van or car with a logo.

“If you're still unsure, ask the worker to wait in the car or away from your property and call the company.

“Finally, if you don't expect a visit or are unsure of the worker's legitimacy, don't let them into your home.”