DELTONA, Fla. — Volusia County deputies are warning residents to beware of fake workers trying to get into your home.

  • Sheriff's Office: Fake utility workers burglarizing residents
  • Residents said fake workers distracted them while partner entered home
  • Deputies: If worker comes to your door, don't let them in, call company

"He said, 'I'm with the water company,' " said the victim of a fake utility worker who showed up at man's home.

The 84-year-old man didn't want to be identified because he's now afraid of the fake utility workers who came to his home. He said the fake worker told him he was checking out a water line break.

"I said, ‘How long do I have to have the water run?’ ” said the man. “He said, ‘Don't worry about it; we'll reimburse you.’ "

Last Saturday, he said the suspect who claimed to work for Deltona Water told him to run his kitchen faucet.

"The partner came straight through here," said the victim, pointing to the place where a second person ran past him.

He thinks that other person ran straight to a bedroom and broke into his safe.

"(They) broke into my safe, and they were gone in about five minutes," he said.

Inside his safe was his class ring from 1952, more than $700 and a wedding band he saved.

"My wife has been deceased 13 years now, and I was sad. It brought memories back," the man said.

A similar case happened just one day after in DeBary, where a 90-year-old woman said two men showed up from an alleged power company.

One distracted her while the other ran in and took money from her bedroom. Now the Deltona victim's neighbors are watching out for each other.

"It’s wrong why they would do that to them," said Debbie Porter, a neighbor.

"It’s bad that people prey on the elderly, and I don't like it. I'm going to tell all my neighbors to be on the lookout for suspicious people," David Wise said.

The victim said either the suspect’s vehicle or shirt had logos on them.

At this point, it’s too early to tell whether the two cases are connected. But the Volusia County Sheriff's Office says if someone approaches you and claims to represent a city utility or the power company, residents are advised not to let the person in and instead call the company to find out whether they are legitimate.