The South Farmingdale Water District has issued a warning to Farmingdale residents in light of a recent string of crimes involving individuals posing as water district/health department employees and burglarizing homes.

"We are very concerned about the safety of our consumers and the fraudulent and criminal activity within our community," said South Farmingdale Water District officials in a statement. "These perpetrators typically target senior citizens with bogus identification and distract the resident while their accomplice ransacks the home and commits theft.  By the time the imposter conducts his or her alleged business, the accomplice is long gone and the home has been burglarized.”

Recently there has been a wave of these burglaries in the Massapequa, Farmingdale and Plainview areas, where imposters pose as officials and approach people’s homes asking to gain entrance to inspect the water meter. Nassau Police have said that they work in pairs, male or female, and make people feel comfortable about allowing them into their home. 

The district said it is extremely rare that anyone from the SFWD will need to enter the home. Even if there is an emergency such as a water main break, the district will notify a resident in advance without a need to enter the house.

SFWD urges residents to take caution, keep the door locked and call 911 immediately and ask if anyone has information or tips about these crimes to contact the police.