(Sept. 28, 2006) -- LBPD says that on Sept. 27, it responded to three separate incidents in Belmont Shore/Naples neighborhoods in which elderly victims were targeted in a scam.

"Due to the suspicious nature of these occurrences, residents are asked to contact the Long Beach Police Department if they have encountered a similar experience," LBPD said in a release that described the circumstances as follows:

Two suspects (details below) wear construction type uniforms (Blue shirt and blue pants) and an official looking identification badge. During the scams, one suspect knocks on the door, makes contact with the victim and convinces the victim to walk them into the backyard under the ruse that the victim’s water pipes needed to be checked for contamination.

"To gain trust, the suspects would identify themselves as city employees on routine business. If the unsuspecting victims allowed the suspect into the backyard, an accomplice suspect would enter the unoccupied residence and look around. In all three cases, the victims told the suspects to leave prior to any thefts occurring," LBPD says.

LBPD describes the suspects as Hispanic or Caucasian males, 30-35 years old; one with a stocky build, the other weighing 200-210 pounds.

LBPD "suggests that you check and confirm the identification of anyone who requests to enter your property. Call the Police if you suspect any fraudulent or suspicious activity is occurring and keep an eye on any of your elderly neighbors who might be targeted by unscrupulous criminals preying on unsuspecting citizens.

Anyone with information on these or similar type scams is asked to call LBPD's Forgery Fraud Division at (562) 570-7330