ALERT Men Posing as Richland City Workers Trying to Gain Entry to Home

An alert has been posted by the Richland Police Department regarding an incident that was reported to them about a suspicious circumstance that occurred recently. This is pretty scary stuff..

Announcement From the Richland Police Department:

We want to make our residents aware of a suspicious circumstance that occurred. We have only one reported incident. It was reported that a male approached a home owner, identified himself as a City of Richland contractor and stated he wanted into the residents home to check his water pressure. The home owner was suspicious and refused entry, which is the correct thing to do.

The suspicious male was not driving a City of Richland white colored and clearly marked vehicle, but rather a black colored pickup. The alleged contractor/suspicious male became verbally aggressive with the home owner after being denied entry, called who he ID'd as his supervisor who then tried to talk the resident into allowing the man into the home to test the water pressure. The resident continued to deny access and disconnected his communication with the two men.

Both men left and the resident called our office and reported the incident. We conducted a search of the area for the truck, but we were unable to locate it. It was then we discovered the Benton County Sheriff's Office also had a similar call at an earlier date.

If you are approached by anyone identifying themselves as a City of Richland employee wanting access to your home please ask for identification. If you are not sure they are an employee of the City of Richland, or have concerns regarding the reason for the visit either call the appropriate city department, or dial 911 and RPD is happy to respond and help to confirm that for you.

Remember never allow people into your home you do not know.