Residents Warned of Bogus Meter Readers

The city is warning residents that impostors are going around the Bluff Parks area offering customers a $100 water bill rebate to read their water meters in what appears to be an attempted house burglary operation.

So far, there have been no reports of violence or thefts, city officials said Tuesday. The Long Beach Police Department and the Long Beach Water Department are investigating the matter, but no arrests have been made.

“This has been an ongoing problem for the last 30 days,” said Tyrone D. Bland of the Water Department, which has received nearly 10 complaints about the bogus meter readers.

Although all water meters are located outside residents’ homes, authorities said the impostors try to get into people’s homes by claiming the meters are inside.

If approached, residents are being told to ask for city work orders and proper city identification with a picture. Customers are being asked to call (562) 570-2300 if there is any suspicious activity.