They come to your house saying they want to help. But in this latest scam plaguing East Cobb and North Fulton Counties, police say they really come to rob.

It begins with a knock on the door, according to Cobb County Police Sgt. Dana Pierce. A nice enough seeming Hispanic man tells you there's a problem with some of the trees in your yard. Would you mind coming out to take a look? The man promises to take care of the problem for you and points to his work crew in a newer-looking grey Ford F-150 pickup truck.

"That person will distract (the homeowner) while a second person goes around the back of the house and they begin to burglarize the home," said Pierce. They generally go right for the master bedroom, he explained, where they find money, weapons and jewelry.

The suspects, as many as three or four, hit a home in East Cobb County on Sunday. That prompted the issuance of a police warning to the residents of northeast Cobb County on Tuesday.

"The best defense against these guys is, if you have any concerns at all, don't hesitate to call 911," Pierce said.