Police: Man Impersonates Utility Worker to Facilitate Burglary

A man claiming to be a utility worker lured a homeowner outside while an accomplice entered the home and took cash, according to the Fairfax County Police Department.

Police report that on 12:35 p.m. Friday on the 11000 block of Waples Mill Road in Fairfax, a man knocked on a door and claimed to be with the Fairfax County Water Authority.

The homeowner guided the man into her back yard while a second, unknown person entered the home and took cash, police said. The utility impersonator was described as being in his 40s, about 6 foot tall and 210 pounds.

Police and Fairfax Water urge residents verify authenticity of visitors by taking the following:

• Fairfax Water employees have photo identification with them at all times when they are on the job. Vehicles and field staff’s clothing bear our logo.
• If someone comes to your door and identifies themselves as a Fairfax Water employee, please ask for their identification or call 703-698-5800, TTY 711 to verify before letting them into your home.
• Fairfax Water employees do not receive or accept any form of payments during service calls and do not collect water-service fees door-to-door.
• Most water meters are located outside of a customer’s home. Therefore, Fairfax Water employees typically DO NOT require access to a customer’s home to read a meter.