People in the Thurles area are being warned of a bogus caller who is stealing property from homes on the pretence he's there to check water meters.
Gardaí are investigating a spate of such incidents in the past 48 hours and are urging homeowners to be extra vigilant about callers.
According to officers in Thurles the suspect tells householders mostly elderly that he is checking water meters and proceeds to inspect radiators before asking the residents to go upstairs or to another part of the house to turn on taps or check boilers.
Once they are out of the room – he then steals personal belongings and flees the house.
The culprit is described as a man in his 40's with dark curly hair and sallow skin wearing a blue tracksuit and a white zip-up top.
Gardaí say the man is very friendly and convincing; he carries a notebook and some small equipment and doesn't have an Irish accent.
He is driving a green saloon car…Thurles Gardaí are advising people that live alone, not to let anyone into their homes unless they know them.
