After a man posing as a National Grid employee attempted to enter a residence in Cranston, the office of Attorney General Peter Kilmartin has issued a home invasion warning to Rhode Islanders.

According to a statement from Kilmartin’s office, a Cranston resident reported that a person claiming to work for the utility company arrived at the home and said the meter needed to be checked.

The resident became suspicious, refused to let the person inside and called National Grid to confirm whether a visit was scheduled. When the company indicated the person was not an employee, the resident contacted Cranston police.

In the statement, Kilmartin and National Grid urge residents “to be sure to verify the identity of anyone who tries to gain access to their home.”

The attorney general’s office said it contacted National Grid to report the issue and confirm the correct procedures for certified employees of the company to gain access to a home. According to the statement, all employees of the company carry photo identification that is prominently displayed and bears the name of both the company and the employee.

Aside from asking to see this identification, residents can call National Grid at 800-322-3223 to verify an employee’s identity. The attorney general urges residents to refuse entry and contact police immediately if proper identification is not provided by a visitor who claims to be an employee of a utility company.

“Impersonating a legitimate business to gain access to a home for the purposes of committing robbery, or possibly worse, is extremely concerning,” Kilmartin said in the statement. “My first concern is the public’s safety. Do not let anyone you don’t know into your home without first confirming who they are and why they are there. If something doesn’t add up, contact the police immediately.”