HOBART | A scam has police concerned for city residents, especially the elderly.

An elderly Hobart couple had a substantial amount of money stolen from their residence in the 400 block of 10th Street, police Lt. Leo Finnerty said.

Finnerty said the couple reported two men came to the residence March 26 claiming to be NIPSCO employees and saying they needed to check the home. One man stayed at the front door with one of the victims while the other turned on a faucet in the house and told the other victim to watch it.

Finnerty said the man then searched the home and eventually left.

The couple said they didn't notice anything was missing after the men left the residence, but still reported it to the police March 26.

The couple then noticed money they kept in a dresser drawer was missing and filed a new report of the incident Monday, Finnerty said. The exact amount of money stolen wasn't released for the safety of the victims.

Finnerty said scam artists sometimes target the elderly because they can be trusting, and residents should be skeptical of anyone who comes to their residence without proper identification. He said if a person from a company like NIPSCO shows up at a residence, they would have proper identification with them.

"If they're legit they can't show you quick enough," Finnerty said.