A woman has said “alarm bells immediately rung” when her father with dementia was targeted by scammers in a “distraction burglary” incident.

Police said a “bogus caller” in a high-vis jacket arrived at the 87-year-old’s house, in Kings Langley, at 2.15pm on Thursday, claiming he needed to read the gas meter.

Police are treating the incident as a "distraction burglary", although nothing was taken.

Read more: 

The resident let the “bogus caller” in but stood by him while he read the meter and until he left the house.

In a post on Facebook, his daughter said: “I arrived 12 minutes later, and alarm bells immediately rung in my head as my dad has a smart meter.”

The energy company, Bulb, confirmed that no one should have been reading the meter and added they would always contact elderly customers prior to a home visit.

A spokesperson for Hertfordshire Constabulary said: “Bogus callers can often be very convincing about their reasons for needing to enter your home.

“We would always advise people never to let anyone in without a prior appointment.”

Have you got a story for us? You can contact us here.

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to keep up with all the latest news.

To receive breaking news alerts or newsletters sign up here.

Check out our Watford crime and court Facebook page here.