YORKSHIRE Water is warning customers to be alert to bogus callers who may be in operation after company clothing was stolen from a van in Barnsley.
Bosses at the utility company fear criminals could use the stolen clothing to con their way into residents' homes.
A Yorkshire Water spokesman said: "The Yorkshire Water items were stolen from a van in South Yorkshire but the fear is they could be used throughout the region by people pretending to be from the company.
"All genuine Yorkshire Water employees carry identification, and on the very rare occasions the company visits customers' properties this identification can and should always be verified.
"Genuine callers will have no issue waiting while their credentials are verified.
"To help crack down on the scourge of bogus callers, the company also has a customer password system. The scheme works by enabling customers to register an agreed personal password with the company, through a simple phone call."
