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Two men who showed up uninvited to a rural Marlborough property allegedly claimed they were plumbers. (File photo)
Two suspicious visitors disguised as plumbers have prompted a warning from Marlborough police for rural property owners to be wary of suspicious activity.
Several Waihopai Valley residents had called police about the pair, after they visited their properties earlier this month equipped with plumbing tools, though nothing had been stolen so far.
Senior Constable Russ Smith, of Blenheim, said police received a report of two males, driving a white van, who had entered a property on Waihopai Valley Rd about 9am on May 5.
Ricky Wilson/Stuff
Police have received a report of a burglary at an address in Waihopai Valley.
“They are believed to have said that they were plumbers, and were there to work on plumbing at the property. The van they were driving appears to have had equipment in the back of it that fitted with this claim,” Smith said.
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“However, the owner of the property had not engaged plumbers for any work.”
Police were also notified of two men, one aged in 40s and of solid build, and the other in his 20s with blonde hair, visiting several properties on nearby Tyntesfield Rd on May 8. However, police had since investigated the visit and found they were genuine tradespeople employed by a resident that were struggling to find the right address, Smith said.
Other residents that received similar visits said the men “seemed confused about the property RAPID (Rural Address Property Identification) number they were supposed to visit for work, always quoting numbers a few either side of where they were at the time”.
The reports suggested that nothing was stolen from the properties involved, Smith said.
Scott Hammond/Stuff
Senior Constable Russ Smith says rural properties are increasingly becoming the target of criminals.
“Police enquiries in relation to this matter are continuing.”
Smith advised people living in rural areas of Marlborough to keep an eye out for suspicious activity, and encouraged people to evaluate how secure their dwellings, out-buildings, vehicles and equipment were.
NZ POLICE
Police have launched a new number – 105 – meant for crimes that pose no immediate danger to the public, such as burglary, vandalism and general inquiries (first published in 2019).
“Rural properties are increasingly becoming the target of criminals intent on stealing valuables that are not secured,” Smith said.
People aware of suspicious activity that has occurred, whether it involved vehicles, people or both, were urged to report this to police. This could be done by calling 105, or by making an online report on the NZ Police website.
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