Pensioners warned to be alert for bogus water workers

Neans McSweeney

The raid on the woman’s house in Tramore has sparked fear in the community and has led to garda appeals to the public not to store cash in their homes.

Gardaí investigating the incident said the bogus inspectors called to a number of houses in the area. They have appealed to anyone who saw them or noticed anything suspicious to contact them.

While the elderly householder was occupied, one of the robbers made their way into her home on Tuesday afternoon and then made off with a substantial amount of cash.

Superintendent Jerry Lynch said: “We would ask people to use the bank or the post office and not to keep cash in their homes.

We would also ask anyone who saw anything suspicious to contact us,” he said

The Workers Party said yesterday that such raids on the homes of elderly people are all too common in Waterford.

Councillor John Halligan warned that elderly people are often seen as soft targets by thugs.

“Senior citizens are being targeted, particularly when they go to Mass. We need to get liaison officers into areas which have been hit and need them to get involved in trying to bring these culprits to justice,” Mr Halligan said.

“I would also appeal to people who live on their own and to their neighbours to keep an eye out, particularly on Friday and Saturday nights when these attacks are taking place.”