Hoffman Estates police warn of ruse burglaries

Hoffman Estates police are warning residents to be cautious of ruse burglaries after a man posing as a village employee was allowed into a house Saturday afternoon and rummaged through its owner's belongings.

Investigators are still trying to determine exactly what may have been taken from the house in the 500 block of Glendale Lane, Hoffman Estates police Sgt. Mark Mueller said.

The man, who did not present proper village identification or have a village vehicle, told the home's owner he was there Saturday afternoon to check the water pressure, police said.

Ruse burglaries typically occur when a homeowner is distracted by a person with a purportedly legitimate business purpose while a second person enters the house to remove valuables. Police did not indicate that a second person was involved in Saturday's burglary.

Senior residents are frequent targets of such crimes, while jewelry, cash and other easily concealed items are typically stolen.

Police recommend that residents never let unknown people into their homes, not to go outside or into the backyard with a stranger to look at property lines or home repair needs, and never to provide personal information.

Hoffman Estates police also emphasized the need to keep doors locked and call 911 to verify the legitimacy of such a visitor.

More information about ruse burglaries can be obtained by calling the department's investigations division at (847) 781-2800.