PINEY POINT, Texas—The Memorial Villages Police Department has issued a warning after thieves posed as utility workers Wednesday to steal from an elderly couple's homeowner.
Piney Point is an upscale, but quaint, community.
"Just a nice neighborhood, it always has been," said one resident who only wanted to be identified as Sara.
It’s a place where homeowners admit they can be a little naive.
"You don’t even feel like you need to look out the peephole," said Sara, who’s lived in the community for 30 years and has recently noticed the police cars at a neighbor’s house.
"They’re an older couple and I was really worried that something had happened to them," said Sara.
The couple, who did not wish to be interviewed, told Memorial Villages Police Detective Eric Jones about the incident.
"The husband answered the door and a lady and a man said that they were with the water department and that somebody was working in the backyard," said Jones.
Jones said the man and woman, who pretended to work for the Memorial Villages Water Department, talked their way inside the house and kept asking questions.
"By asking (the couple) questions about things about the house and artwork and kitchen things and separated and kept them occupied as the third person was burglarizing their house," said Jones.
The elderly woman eventually noticed the third person in her home, at which point the three thieves quickly left.
It was later learned by the couple that the town’s real water department employees drive marked cars, wear uniforms and only service exterior water mains and pipes. 11 News checked with the water department, which confirmed its employees would never ask to come inside a resident’s house.
Sara says the incident should serve as a warning.
"I guess you need to ask for ID and really be aware who is coming into your home," she said.
The thieves ended up getting away with some of the couple’s jewelry, making detectives wonder if the thieves will try the scheme again.
