An elderly Tamaqua resident was scammed and his house burglarized Tuesday afternoon. The South Ward resident answered a knock on his door to find a man who said he represented a utility company.

Being cautious, the victim didn’t let the man inside. But the fake worker didn’t want entry to the house, saying he needed the resident to come out back where there was a problem.

Thinking that was safe, the resident agreed and the two men went to the rear of the property.

But it wasn’t safe. While the victim was preoccupied, a second man entered the unlocked front door and burglarized the home, making off with an undisclosed amount of cash and jewelry.

Tamaqua Police Chief Rick Weaver warns residents, especially the elderly, to be extra cautious of strangers.

“You know your own neighborhood the best. Be on the lookout for strangers and always ask to see identification. Keep your doors locked, your garage doors closed. These scammers have been known to case a neighborhood, looking to prey on older residents.”