KEY POINTS:
Police are investigating a fresh report that a man pretending to be a detective has stolen bank cards from elderly women, and are warning the public to be careful about the access they give strangers to their homes.
The man visited the homes of four Onehunga women, aged 85 to 91, between May 13 and last Friday, pretending he was a detective investigating previous burglaries on each of their homes.
Police believe the man either knows the burglar or was himself involved in the burglaries, during which the women's bank cards were also stolen.
Senior Sergeant Hirone Waretini of Mt Wellington police said he was now looking into a fifth report from South Auckland which involved a similar crime.
However, it was too early to say if the same offender was involved.
On the most recent occasion, the man talked an 88-year-old woman into giving him her bank card and pin number and withdrew $4000 from her account.
"It's a disgrace," Mr Waretini said.
"What he's doing is disgraceful. It shows a complete lack of conscience."
The man was dressed tidily in plain clothes and had the police crest and letterhead to assist him in his "pantomime", Mr Waretini said.
He asked the women for their cards and pin numbers, or asked to take photographs of their bank cards.
Mr Waretini said the thefts highlighted the need for people to be careful about giving people access to their homes and advised residents not to hesitate to ask for identification or refuse entry if they suspected something was not right.
"Be very wary of people who cold-call, and by cold-call I mean arrive on your doorstep without having previously arranged to come and see you."
It was common for fraudsters to pretend to be tradespeople offering to do work for the elderly but Mr Waretini said it was "unusual and disturbing" that someone was pretending to be a police officer.
"I think the community as a whole is outraged by this type of offending against the elderly.
"Protecting the elderly is something the whole community needs to concern itself with - family members, caregivers, the police and organisations that deal with the elderly - it's actually a community responsibility to look after our most vulnerable people."
Mr Waretini did not believe the other three victims lost any money to the man.
The offender is described as a male European aged in his 30s to 40s. He is about 178cm tall and of solid build, with brown shoulder-length hair.
The police fraud squad is also investigating.
