A man posing as a National Grid workman robbed a 79-year-old New Hyde Park woman in her home last Friday afternoon in one of three similar burglaries that occurred last week, Nassau County Police reported.
Police said the man stole assorted gold jewelry from the woman’s jewelry box.
Nassau County Police are warning residents that individuals are conducting burglaries throughout Nassau County, with individuals posing as utility workers. Police said similar methods were used in burglaries in Westbury on June 20 and Syosset on June 19.
Police said there may have been accomplices in more than one of the burglaries, with the National Grid imposter distracting the homeowner while a second burglar entered the house.
In the New Hyde Park burglary, a white male wearing a yellow work vest and a yellow construction hat knocked on the door of the woman’s Pine Street home on June 20 at 12:20 p.m. and told her he was from National Grid and there had been a gas explosion in the area, police said The man said he needed to check the water in the house for a gas leak, police said.
The man then told the woman to turn on the kitchen faucet while he continued alone into a bathroom near the master bedroom, police said. Police said the man remained in the home for approximately 20 minutes and then left.
The woman discovered the missing jewelry after he left and called police.
Detectives request anyone with information regarding this crime to call Nassau County Crime Stoppers at 1-800-244-TIPS. All callers will remain anonymous.
