Buffalo Grove police warn residents of 'ruse' burglaries

Buffalo Grove police Tuesday warned homeowners to be on guard against “ruse” burglaries after a burglary and an attempted burglary in the past week.

A “ruse burglary” is a crime in which someone distracts the homeowner while a second person enters the home and looks for things to steal. Ruse burglaries are a favorite method of operation for residential burglars and often target older people, police said.

On the afternoon of Jan. 4, a resident on the 800 block of Saxon Place reported that a man entered his home and told the resident he had recently done some work in the area and may have damaged some wires near the victim's home.

It appears that this man kept the resident occupied in the back of the home, while another person entered the home and removed jewelry.

On the afternoon of Jan. 8, another man was able to gain entry to a home on the 200 block of Stonegate Road by claiming that he would be doing some work near the backyard and he wanted to show the resident where the work would be performed.

The resident became suspicious and said he would be calling the police. The man quickly exited the home, along with two other men who had evidently been in the home without the resident's knowledge. It does not appear that anything was taken in this case. The men left the area in a maroon minivan, possibly a Dodge.

In both cases, the suspect that made contact with the resident is described as a clean-shaven male Hispanic, around 6 feet, 225-250 pounds, wearing a baseball cap or winter cap and work clothes.

In a similar case last week in Palatine, two men told residents of a home on the 400 block of West Daniels Road they were with the water department, while a third suspect removed a safe and valuables.

The men, who were driving a newer beige pickup truck, were described as Hispanic, about 5 feet, 6 inches, 28-30 years old, clean-shaven, with short black hair. One weighed about 190 pounds and one about 150 pounds.

Utility employees should have official identification that can be verified.

Police officials reminded residents to not allow strangers access to their yard, home or garage, and call 911 to report suspicious people asking for access to a home.

Residents should also be aware of occupied vehicles parked in residential neighborhoods.