HOUSEHOLDERS fear would-be burglars are checking out homes to target by walking straight in and pretending they’ve walked into the wrong house.

Several incidents have been reported either on social media or to police in recent days.

Martin Trinder, who lives in Curie Avenue, said it happened to him on July 1 and 2.

He said: “It was late at night and we were in the lounge upstairs when it happened. We heard something downstairs and I went down.

“We’d forgotten to lock the door behind us. I found someone in our hallway, and it was a bit shocking.

“There was a smartly dressed, slim build, early 20s man in our hallway.

“He said he had gone into the wrong house, but I spoke to the people of the supposed house he meant, they knew nothing of him.”

The family was visited again the following day but this time by a different man.

Martin added: “The following day similar happened but it was another guy this time and in the afternoon.

“My wife was upstairs when she heard the doorbell. She opened the door and the man tried to push past her and stepped into the house. It’s very scary.”

Martin reported the incident to the police.

And to improve the safety around his house, he called a local security company.

“I have purchased a Ring doorbell with camera and another lock,” he said.

Other people have shared similar stories on the Old Town group on Facebook.

Trudi Wagner said: “I had a woman who knocked on my door last week at 10.30pm claiming she wanted to kill herself on the railway line.

“She asked to come in and use my phone, I refused an made the phone call for her.

“After arranging for her boyfriend to pick her up, she left but then went to my neighbours with the same story. I reported to the police who agreed with me that it sounded like people are trying to get access to the house.”

Jess Simpkins added: “A bloke walked into our hallway and said ‘oh sorry, wrong house’ then quickly left. I had forgotten to lock door when I came back from the shop.”

And Tracy Lesley said: “There have been similar incidents in Greenmeadow and Haydon Wick. People in those areas caught a man on camera so may be they have changed area.”

A spokesman for Wiltshire Police issued advice on how householders should stay safe: “Lock your doors and windows every time you leave the house.

“Do not open the door to anyone you don’t know or are not expecting. Always check by using a spy-hole or look through a window. Always report suspicious activity, note vehicle registrations, descriptions of persons involved and direction of travel.”