ARTICLES

Inside Edition Article

By IE Staff
February 13, 2019

 

What starts with a simple knock on the door can quickly turn into a violent robbery.

 

Some criminals are posing as utility workers or delivery drivers to break into residences, tricking unsuspecting people into opening their doors and allowing the thieves into their homes.

 

To see if homeowners are vulnerable to this type of crime, Inside Edition outfitted former law enforcement officer and security consultant Steve Kardian with a hard hat, vest and clipboard, and sent him to knock on doors around Westchester County, New York.

 

Kardian told homeowners he was with the water commission and asked whether he could check their water pressure. But what many didn't realize is there's no such agency as the water commission in that neighborhood.

 

Chief Investigative Correspondent Lisa Guerrero watched from a car out front along with Officer Jonathan Kramel with the Mount Pleasant Police Department.

 

"I'm with the water commission ... we're checking on the water pressure. Do you mind if I come in and check?" Kardian asked one woman.

 

"OK," she replied.

"You sure?" he checked.

"OK," she said.

After she agreed, the team explained the situation. "I'm actually with Inside Edition," Kardian said. "... There's been dozens and dozens of cases of people posing as utility workers getting into the homes and doing horrible things."

 

"So were you convinced?" Guerrero asked the woman. "I was ... it looked like a pretty convincing utility person coming to check on the water pressure," she replied.

 

"So were you going to let him into your home?" Guerrero asked the homeowner.

"I was," she said…

 

This full article can be accessed on the Inside Edition website.