Warm Weather Beckons Ruse Burglars in the Southland

An 84-year-old woman is greeted at her home by a man who said he wants to repair a fence in her backyard.

He bought the neighboring home for his parents, he tells her, and the two residences share the mangled boundary. The woman takes the man, who introduces himself as "John Lopez," to the backyard. Meanwhile, at least one accomplice barges into the home, rifles through closets and grabs anything—and everything—of value. In the backyard, John's cell phone buzzes. He leaves abrubtly, telling the woman he'll return later in the day.

But he never shows. By the time the woman realizes friendly "John Lopez" was up to no good, her wedding rings and other expensive jewelry are gone. 

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Unfortunately, the story you’ve just read was taken from reports. Every year, hundreds of seniors become victims of ruse burglaries throughout the Chicago-metro area.

"We always see more of these cases when it gets warmer outside," Tinley Park Police Cmdr. Steve Vacarro said. "I want people to be on guard."

While an increasing number of seniors are becoming web-savvy, there are still many who are not. Area police hope that by publicizing some of the more frequent crimes against the elderly, younger family members can work with older loved ones to keep them from becoming victimized by ruse burglars and other scam artists that prey upon the elderly.

Read some of the other T-P Patch ruse burglary reports.

Ruse burglaries are atypical from the type of burglar that breaks into a business or residence when residents aren’t home or the business is closed.

These con artists generally tend to be more active in warmer months, when they are more likely to drive around neighborhoods looking for senior citizens outside their homes tending their gardens or working on the exterior of their houses.

They engage their elderly victims in conversation or make up some ruse that they’re from the water department or electric company and need to check something inside the house.

Working in groups, one ruse burglar will talk to the elderly victim, while their accomplices scatter through the house stealing valuables and cash. Often the items taken are irreplaceable, such as a grandmother's diamond ring, because of their sentimental value.

"If you're unsure, don't let anyone into your house, don't take anyone into your backyard," Vacarro said. "If you're suspicious in any way, call the police. If they're not who they say they are, when we get there, they're going to try to get in their car and drive away."

Residents should lock their doors while working or relaxing in the yard, police said.

These offenders will also pose as contractors, offering to do such work as driveway seal coating, tree trimming, roof or chimney repairs. While talking to victims, especially the elderly, they'll assess their mental capacities, quoting low or high estimates for contracted jobs depending on victims' mental state. When the "work" is completed, they will demand more money from the victim. The work is always substandard.

Senior Safety Tips for Preventing Ruse Burglaries

1. Be aware of anyone coming to your door or approaching you for unsolicited business. Always keep the storm door knocked.
2. When outside gardening, carry a house key in your pocket and keep the doors to the home locked. Have a cell phone handy to call 911 should suspicious persons approach you.
3. Take note of any vehicles in the area—cars, vans, trucks—that are suspicious or seem out of place, particularly those with missing front and/or read license plates, or vehicles that appear to be in shabby conditions with identifying business markings on the sides.
4. Request identification from the person who approaches and tell them you will verify any work to be conducted in the area with the police. “If they’re legit they will stand by while you call police and present credentials,” Det. Cronin said. “When the bad guys see that you’re calling police, they’ll leave.”
5. Keep jewelry and other valuables and cash in a safe place, preferably a bank safety deposit box.
6. Ruse burglars are usually non-violent, but don’t confront them. If they’re inside your house, get to a phone if you can and call 911. You don’t have to speak to the operator, just leave the phone off the hook.
7. Most ruse burglars are only in the house for five minutes or less. If you can’t get to a phone, try to get a license plate number and note the direction the offenders leave in. Call 911 immediately after they leave so police have a better chase of nabbing them.

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Do you have additional tips that may help prevent ruse burglaries? Tell us in the comments.