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3 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Home News Latest Stories Emergency services, March 2 Ashland: Budget increase, swimming pool funding discussion on council agenda The new normal under climate change? Public Meetings: March 2-6 Mail Tribune 100: March 1, 1915 Crime, Courts and Emergency Services Emergency services, March 2 Emergency services, March 1 Two injured in White City house fire Family, friends of Central Point fire victim try to cover costs Feds charge California couple with medical device fraud Politics and Elections Ashland: Budget increase, swimming pool funding discussion on council agenda Judge upholds Phoenix's moratorium on medical marijuana dispensaries Ballots on Jackson County marijuana tax go out Friday Brown's inauguration brings hope to local lawmakers Kate Brown sworn in as Oregon's 38th governor Education MSD considers adding a health center at one of the city's high schools Absenteeism in Oregon schools prompts bill that would tie funding to attendance, not enrollment Territorial Seed contribution a boost for SOU food program 200-plus Jackson County students miss vaccination deadline Medford, Ashland districts fall short of anti-bullying standards Environment The new normal under climate change? Lost Creek Lake algae bloom subsides Lost Creek Lake logjam could become hazard for boaters Made in the Shade Controlled burn planned for Ashland watershed on Friday State News Oregon considers banning non-medical vaccine exemptions Bill to dissolve Cover Oregon heads to Governor Brown Oregon official says he was questioned by FBI, IRS Hayes wants her private emails protected Oregon Senate votes unanimously to outlaw 'revenge porn' Nation - World Obituaries Clara "Jackie" Bean Mae Kathleen Quaccia Joseph (Joe) Torres Margaret M. Moffitt Ruby Beck Perkins Weather Photo Galleries Since You Asked Videos Web Cams Mail Tribune 100 Shareable Bank of America is predicting a massive Tesla collapse Mars One attracts science fiction geeks and people who hate society This $1 million Mercedes is like an armored private jet for the road Sports Latest Stories Ducks beat Cardinal, clinch Pac-12 tourney bye Kings Conquered Poulter, Casey share lead at Honda Oregon upsets No. 19 Stanford Kaminsky, No. 5 Wisconsin clinch Big 10 share Varsity 541 College Sports Ducks beat Cardinal, clinch Pac-12 tourney bye Oregon upsets No. 19 Stanford Kaminsky, No. 5 Wisconsin clinch Big 10 share Cal's big run tops OSU No. 7 Arizona overtakes No. 13 Utah Pro Sports Kings Conquered Poulter, Casey share lead at Honda Nadal wins first title in nearly nine months Rousey makes quick work of Cat Depleted Hawks beat Heat Community Sports Business Latest Stories Business Briefs: Feb. 28 People in Business: Feb. 28 Medford Fabrication isn't afraid to go big Ride & Drive: 2015 Audi R8 Blog: Friends Forever Real Estate News Housing prices climb 9 percent in Jackson County Big plans on the Butte Homes for the long haul People In Business People in Business: Feb. 28 People in Business People in Business Transportation Lodging gains bode well for travel industries Medford airport flies past January record Agriculture Warm winter has fruit growers poised for action Briefcase: Business briefs for Feb. 21 1-800-Flowers dumps Harry & David execs Opinion Latest Letters to the Editor, March 1 Our View: Drawing back the curtain on government Dana Milbank: Jeb Bush, CPAC pinata Charles Krauthammer: The fatal flaw in the Iran deal GUEST OPINION: Police, community should work to prevent profiling Editorials Our View: Drawing back the curtain on government Other Views: Brown's list of challenges is lengthy Our View: School attendance bill could backfire Our View: Higher education still getting too little Our View: Adjusting for unintended consequences Letters to the Editor Letters to the Editor, March 1 Letters to the Editor, Feb. 28 Letters to the Editor, Feb. 27 Letters to the Editor, Feb. 26 Letters to the Editor, Feb. 25 Columns Dana Milbank: Jeb Bush, CPAC pinata Charles Krauthammer: The fatal flaw in the Iran deal GUEST OPINION: Police, community should work to prevent profiling George Will: Two reading lessons from the Supreme Court Guest Opinion: Don't overregulate Oregon's hemp industry Guest Opinions GUEST OPINION: Police, community should work to prevent profiling Guest Opinion: Don't overregulate Oregon's hemp industry Guest Opinion: Predatory banking practices bilk citizens Guest Opinion: Is less education the answer? Guest Opinion: Bill would shore up legal aid funding Lifestyle Latest stories Community blog: How I Became Radical: The Power of Acceptance Community blog: The Guest List: Check! Review: In "Much Ado," why not let Shakespeare be Shakespeare? Adopt a Pet: Moby Wedding: Schwartz-Gibbs Food Restaurant Inspections: Sunday, March 1 Community blog: Support local CSA farms by signing up Saturday Joanna McQuillan Weeks: Cheeseburger pie is the perfect winter comfort food Page H. Onorato: Hot dogs I have known and loved Season Stepp: Tips for roasting vegetables Home and Garden Specialty painting adds wow to your walls Dear Monty: Home seller questions agent ethics Home Help: Low-maintenance landscaping ideas Garden Cameos: Winter is the time to prune How to install energy-efficient windows the right way Health Community blog: How I Became Radical: The Power of Acceptance Community blog: The Guest List: Check! Health Watch: Sticking to your health plan when your family isn’t helping Community blog: Finding Your Indomitable Spirit to Defeat Addiction Dr. Murray Feingold: ‘Beet’ high blood pressure with borscht Hiking Biking Faith Religion briefs, Feb. 27 Religion briefs: Friday, Feb. 20 Religion News: Pope makes surprise shantytown visit Religion briefs: Friday, Feb. 13 RELIGION BRIEFS, Feb. 6 Milestones and Achievements Anniversary: Hofer New arrivals: Sunday, Feb. 8 Columnist for a Day Rogue Healthy Aging Tempo Latest stories Live Music in Local Clubs HAPA plays the Historic Ashland Armory An all-new Rising Stars music competition kicks off this weekend Ronny Cox plays the Unitarian Fellowship SOU presents 'She Stoops to Conquer' Theater Review: OSF elevates the neglected 'Pericles' Review: In "Much Ado," why not let Shakespeare be Shakespeare? 'She Stoops' rises on SOU stage SOU presents 'She Stoops to Conquer' 'The Glass Menagerie' is polished and professional Music Rogue Valley Symphony showcases Anton Bruckner and Richard Wagner Live Music in Local Clubs HAPA plays the Historic Ashland Armory An all-new Rising Stars music competition kicks off this weekend Ronny Cox plays the Unitarian Fellowship Community Events Third Fridays showcases local artists Southern Oregon Rod and Custom Show Ashland's First Friday Art Walk showcases new exhibits by regional artists Jacksonville celebrates Chinese New Year Dining Restaurant Inspections: Sunday, March 1 Great Outdoor Grill offers healthful options Restaurant Inspections: Sunday, Feb. 22, 2015 Saigon Xich Lo Vietnamese cuisine The zwickels shall flow Tempo Videos Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » Obits Blogs TV Listings Movie Listings Oregon Outdoors Oregon Healthy Living Magazines/Special Sections Business Services NEWS NOW Our View: Drawing back the curtain on government ... Public Meetings: March 2-6 ... GUEST OPINION: Police, community should work to prevent profiling ... Our View: Drawing back the curtain on government ... Public Meetings: March 2-6 ... GUEST OPINION: Police, community should work to prevent profiling ... CENTRAL POINT Police urge caution after men enter home Two men claiming to be water inspectors pushed their way inside By Buffy Pollock for the Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Buffy Pollock for the Mail Tribune Posted Feb. 27, 2015 @ 2:56 pm Updated Feb 27, 2015 at 3:10 PM By Buffy Pollock for the Mail Tribune Posted Feb. 27, 2015 @ 2:56 pm Updated Feb 27, 2015 at 3:10 PM » Social News p bs:newslist StartDate="20121121" EndDate="p bs:datecalc Months="3"" DateSort="1" UseObjects="1" ObjectClass="81" Taxonomywords="2325,665" ExactTaxonomyMatch="1" Image="1" Count="4" --> Central Point Police are encouraging residents to be vigilant after two men claiming to be water inspectors Tuesday pushed their way into the home of a retired couple in their 80s on Bursell Road. Police said the men, dressed in orange vests and driving a white, unmarked pickup truck, knocked on the door of Orpha and Don Thumler. When Orpha Thumler answered the door, the men push their way inside. "They said they were checking on the pipes," Orpha Thumler recalled. "When they saw it was just me, they just pushed their way in." Almost immediately, the men began acting suspiciously, looking in drawers and wandering around the house, so Orpha Thumler summoned her husband, who was resting in a back bedroom. Before learning that the husband was home, one of the men told Orpha Thumler to "stay in the kitchen," she said. "I was laying down in the back bedroom listening to the news and my wife came in and said, 'Get out here. Some guys want to check the water for some reason. They want to look at our pipes,' " he said. "They seemed kind of surprised I was home. At first I said, 'Well, OK, there's the sink right there.' Something didn't seem right, so finally I said, 'I think I need to see your paperwork or some identification.' They said it was outside in the truck and they would go get it. They got in the truck and drove off." As the men left, the couple noticed the truck didn't have license plates. Central Point Police captain Brian Day said scams aimed at retired people are not uncommon. One of the men who forced their way into the Thumler residence was described as white and the other appeared to be Hispanic. Both were in their mid 30s with short-cropped hair, police said. Day said his department responded to the Thumler residence immediately and put out a dispatch for the vehicle. "It's clearly not legal to go into somebody's house with intent to commit a crime. The hard part is there's no crime until something happens, but they were very fortunate that nothing did happen," Day said. "The hard part is, with cons, they could be knocking on a number of doors. If someone seems like they would be hard to manipulate, they might just say they're mowing lawns or say, 'Is this the so-and-so residence?' and give a false name. When they find someone who answers the door that they feel comfortable manipulating, then they pull whatever they've gone there to do." Medford Water Commission officials said Friday that inspectors were conducting back-flow testing in the area, but proper identification and paperwork is presented at each residence. Vehicles are also clearly marked. Don Thumler said he felt fortunate his wife was not home alone. "It's a real good thing she wasn't home alone. Criminals have a lot of guts when it comes to taking advantage of people," he said. "We just hope it doesn't happen to anyone else. We'll keep the door locked for sure, now." Buffy Pollock is a freelance writer living in Medford. Email her at [email protected]   By Buffy Pollock for the Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Buffy Pollock for the Mail Tribune Posted Feb. 27, 2015 @ 2:56 pm Updated Feb 27, 2015 at 3:10 PM » Comment or view comments /* $( document ).ready(function() { // Jquery mobile is trying to style the button and leaving a blank gry button on top of a white button $("#viafouracoms .vf-comment-controls li.vf-right").html(' Submit '); });*/ » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. 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