Warning after crooks pose as firefighters in Wolverhampton
Suspected crooks posed as firefighters in a ‘shameless’ bid to gain entry to a home in Wolverhampton.
Two men dressed in plain clothes knocked on a woman’s door, claimed to be firefighters and asked for entry to the property to check her smoke alarms.
They were not able to provide any ID and she denied them entry.
West Midlands Fire Service has issued a warning after the ‘disgusting’ incident.
The fire service warning
Chiefs have said they are worried and told residents not to let anyone claiming to be a firefighter into their homes unless they present official ID.
Wolverhampton’s Conservative group leader, Wendy Thompson, has branded the incident ‘absolutely shocking’.
She has urged people to warn friends and family – particularly the elderly – to avoid falling prey to criminal activity.
Badge
A fire service statement said: “We are very concerned people are posing as our firefighters. This has been reported to the police.
“Do not let anyone saying they are a firefighter into your home, unless they have West Midlands Fire Service ID badge.”
Councillor Thompson hit out at the behaviour, saying: “I’m sure the firefighters must be furious – and quite rightly so.
“These people are totally shameless. Everyone needs to be very alert to the fact these unscrupulous people are around. Relatives of elderly people need to be aware. It’s absolutely shocking.”
A police spokesman said: “Police are investigating a report from West Midlands Fire Service about two men claiming to be firefighters, who tried to gain access to somebody’s home.
“A woman has reported that two men dressed in plain clothes knocked at the door of her home in Crathorne Avenue, Bushbury, and asked to check her smoke detectors.”
