Water, gas utilities warn of impostors trying to get inside homes

The valley's largest water and gas utilities are warning customers about criminals posing as employees to gain entry into homes.

Southwest Gas issued an alert Nov. 4, and the Las Vegas Valley Water District followed suit Tuesday after a handful of incidents involving impostors who dressed as service personnel to enter residences.

Southwest Gas issued its warning to customers after receiving reports of people dressed as utility workers asking to inspect appliances or home insulation.

Water district spokesman Scott Huntley said a similar tactic has been used in at least four instances involving people who posed as water district employees and claimed they were checking for water leaks.

Those incidents occurred in the neighborhoods surrounding the water district's headquarters at Valley View and Charleston boulevards, he said.

Huntley referred questions about any specific crimes to the Metropolitan Police Department.

A police spokeswoman said she didn't know of any reports of robberies fitting that description but added that residents should be cautious before letting anyone they don't know into their homes.

It could be that impostors were "casing" the homes to see what might be worth coming back to steal, the spokeswoman said.

Both utilities said their personnel do not enter homes without permission from the residents. Service calls generally are scheduled in advance and are performed by uniformed employees who carry identification badges and drive marked company vehicles.

Water district employees rarely need to enter residences because water meters are at the street.

If someone shows up at a door unsolicited -- even someone wearing what looks to be a utility uniform and carrying official-looking identification -- residents can call Southwest Gas 24 hours a day at 1-877-860-6020 to verify the person's identity.

"If they are Southwest Gas employees, they will gladly wait outside while you make the call," said Anita Romero, vice president of the company's Southern Nevada division.

The water district urges customers to call the police if someone claiming to be a utility employee insists on gaining entrance to the home even though their identity cannot be determined.

The Las Vegas Valley Water District provides water service to more than 330,000 homes and businesses in the valley.

Southwest Gas provides natural gas services to about 591,000 customers in Southern Nevada.

Contact reporter Henry Brean at hbrean@review journal.com or 702-383-0350.