Concerning home visit - maybe energy?

userfiftsix

Hello there

Hopefuly someone here can help assist with what happened today.

I was leaving for work this morning when I saw a man at my front door. It startled me and I didn't open it as he didn't knock. The next thing I know a long probe came through my letterbox, looked like an endoscopy machine, with a nozzle on the end, I assumed it was a camera or microphone of some sort. and then he left..

I have inspected my Ring doorbell and the man is clearly in a uniform of some sort with an ID and a large box with a wire coming off it, and he was taking pictures of my house. 

I cant make out the logo on his T-shirt but I can make out enough to tell its not from my energy provider - Avro, or Lowri Beck who do their meter readings.

I found online this could be a gas sniffing probe to check for gas leaks, but nothing has been put through the letterbox so I am completely in the dark

Has anyone got any knowledge on this? - Its left me a little shaken up because I have also read scammersdo this and it is in fact a camera checking for car keys etc

Many thanks!

niktheguru

Make sure you have a home alarm and it is being used when you are out of the building.

What you describe sounds worrying, no one should have the right to use a camera through your letterbox without prior consent, so it sounds like someone assessing to see whats in your house. Particularly if they didn't knock beforehand (you can check this on your ring doorbell)

[Deleted User]

Talk to your energy supplier and send them a copy of your Ring video. The supplier will know who their data collector is and whether they have sent out a request for a meter safety check or reading.

Robin9

As you suspect this may be a gas sniffer ring the emergency number for your gas supplier to see if they are aware of problems .

ToomanyPies

This was nothing to do with energy but everything to do with a potential burglary. Take care.

Ectophile

My worry would be that it's someone working out if you keep keys in reach of the letterbox.

I sussest you don't leave keys in the front door lock, or within reach of something poked through the letter box.

They would wear a fake uniform to be less suspicious to any neighbours who see them.

Bacman

Indeed, it will be a thief, no doubt, looking to see if your car or house keys are nearby so they can take them by the pole. Remove anything of interest from the hallway and keep the doors closed; ideally also get a locking letterbox.

Reed_Richards

If you have a good enough image of the man at the door to be able to identify him then the police ought to be interested, particularly if his visit is followed by burglaries in your area.