BALTIMORE, Nov. 12 (UPI) -- A series of recent robberies and home invasions in Baltimore have been carried out by robbers pretending to be police officers, investigators say.
The thieves have used fake badges and walkie-talkies, The Baltimore Sun reported.
The police department has many plainclothes detectives on the street in some of the city's rougher neighborhoods, and robbers often impersonate them.
"It's been a continued problem," Lt. Rob Morris of the intelligence section said. "The unfortunate reality is that you can buy some of these little badges just about anywhere."
Moises Pacheco, who lost $1,800 to three men who searched his home, told the Sun he knew something was very wrong when he realized the walkie-talkie the "police" were using was a child's toy.
The police department has told residents to call 911 if they are suspicious of anyone claiming to be officers and trying to enter their home. They say they very rarely conduct raids without knocking and said officers are required to show identification.
