Con men may be trying to fleece senior citizens in L.A., using fears over the Southern California firestorms as their foot in the door. According to the LAPD:

These scam-artists distract residents by asking if they can check the water pressure to ensure there is sufficient pressure to combat a fire. Or the scam-artist will want to check the rear yard to ensure that the trees are not a potential fire hazard. While the resident is distracted, another suspect will enter the home and remove property and jewelry.

Not terribly sophisticated but, evidently, just enough to get them in the door.

Nice.