HAMMOND | Responding to an outpouring of public concern, city police are blanketing local streets in an effort to nab the perpetrators of deception scams targeting elderly residents.

Statistics released by the department Wednesday show that since December, residents have reported 39 instances in which home invaders attempt to distract residents while conspirators rifle through their houses.

"They're very sophisticated. They know what they're doing. We need to get people to stop letting (the robbers) into their houses," said Bonnie Henry, co-coordinator of the Whiting/Robertsdale Crime Watch.

Groups in Whiting and Hammond are preparing to distribute community fliers this weekend warning residents about the ongoing scams and telling them how to avert the crimes before they happen.

Hammond police records say most of the reported incidents involve scammers saying in broken English that they are employees of the local water department who need to enter homes to test water. Other times they say they're utility repairmen or home contractors.

While the resident is distracted with the first robber, a second enters the home and searches for cash. Meanwhile a third conspirator is often out on the street watching for trouble, Whiting police Lt. Sam Abner said.

"Don't willingly let anyone come into your home," Abner said. "If there's any question, call 911. It's not a bother. That's why they're paying us."

Although communities across the region have reported a handful of such incidents, Hammond appears to have a concentration of them. Perpetrators have hit three houses in six days in Robertsdale and Whiting.

Most of the thefts involve relatively small amounts of cash, although the robbers have made away with thousands in some cases. Hammond police asked the media not to disclose the exact amounts of money taken.

The Whiting/Robertsdale Crime Watch is holding its monthly meeting at 6:30 p.m. July 10 at Calumet College of St. Joseph in Hammond. The group meets there on the second Thursday of each month.