People have been posing as utility workers to steal from homes in Fox Point, Bayside and Whitefish Bay

North Shore police are warning residents to be aware of people posing as utility workers to gain access to other people's homes.

This scam is not necessarily new, but it has been on the uptick in recent months.

On Dec. 12, two men who said they were from the "water department" tricked an 87-year-old woman into letting them into her Bayside house, where they stole $800 worth of jewelry.

Two weeks later, two men masquerading as We Energies employees took more than $100,000 worth of jewelry from a home in Mequon.

More recently, the thieves have targeted residents in Fox Point, Bayside and Whitefish Bay.

The Fox Point theft was reported at 4 p.m. Feb. 11 in the 7900 block of North Santa Monica Boulevard. A man posing as a utility worker stole a "substantial quantity" of collectible coins from a safe in a bedroom. 

Less than two hours later, at 5:40 p.m., a similar scam was reported in the 8900 block of North Navajo Road in Bayside.

Two people pulled a similar scam in Whitefish Bay six days later. They told a resident in the 5100 block of Santa Monica Boulevard that they worked for the power company.

Once they got inside the home, they distracted the homeowner and stole jewelry.  

The suspect description is similar in both the Fox Point and Whitefish Bay incidents.

One of the men is in his early 30s, about 5 feet, 6 inches to 5 feet, 8 inches tall and 160 pounds, with a close-trimmed goatee, grey jacket and khaki pants. He had a lanyard around his neck and was carrying a clipboard, according to Whitefish Bay police.

The suspect drove a small silver sport utility vehicle, according to police reports.

In an email to residents, Fox Point police said all employees with the village, We Energies or any other company will typically carry a photo identification card and drive a marked vehicle. If in doubt about a person's credentials, residents are encouraged to call the police department for assistance.

"Anytime a person presents themselves to your door and they did not contact you prior to the visit, it is okay to have concerns and deny them access to the house," the email states.

Contact Jeff Rumage at (262) 446-6616 or jeff.rumage@jrn.com. Follow him on Twitter at @JeffRumage or Facebook at www.facebook.com/northshorenow.