PORTAGE — Authorities are warning Columbia County residents about two men who they say are attempting to enter occupied homes under false pretenses.

"We certainly encourage the public to treat them as suspicious and dangerous," said Chief Deputy Michael Babcock of the Columbia County Sheriff's Department.

Investigators are looking into two separate incidents where two men visited homes in the rural Rio area along Genrich and Hagen Roads in Wyocena Township, requesting to enter the homes.

In once incident, the men received permission to enter a home sometime last week after claiming to be working with an insurance company. The resident did not ask for identification and allowed the men to look around the home for about a half hour, although nothing was noticed missing from the home, according to a press release.

"If these people do not have identification ... do not let them into your home or into your business," Babcock said.

The incidents might be related to one in Portage last week, where two men with similar descriptions asked to enter the home of Sheriff Dennis Richards while his daughter, Kim Richards, was there with her 8-month-old daughter.

Babcock said it is not unusual for people with severe drug addictions to attempt to go into homes looking for prescription drugs or jewelry.

"This is getting pretty brave of the people to go in broad daylight when somebody is home answering the door," Babcock said.

One suspect is white, 30 years old, 5 feet 10 inches, 200 pounds with a shaved head, no glasses or facial hair, with a Midwest accent.

The second suspect is white, 30 years old, 5 feet 6 inches tall, 180 pounds, with no glasses or facial hair and wearing a gold colored watch, with a Midwest accent.

They drove a large, dark blue four-door vehicle with Wisconsin plates.

Anyone with information is urged to call the Columbia County Sheriff's Office Crime Stoppers at (800) 293-TIPS or (608) 742-4166.

Babcock urges people to lock their doors, and not answer the door if they are not comfortable with the person who is standing there.

"Contact law enforcement and let us come and identify the people," Babcock said.