Fake plumbers trick elderly St. Charles woman

St. Charles police say two thieves posing as plumbers talked their way into an elderly woman's home and left with cash, credit cards and jewelry.

It happened about 3 p.m. Wednesday after a man went to the woman's house on the 600 block of Marion Avenue, claiming he was working on water lines next door and needed to see if the work had affected her water pressure.

After checking the woman's bathroom and kitchen fixtures, the man produced a roll of $100 bills and offered her $50 for the trouble. The woman was about to make change for him when she decided the offer "seemed suspicious" and he left, police said.

A short time later, a second man arrived and identified himself as the other man's "boss." After more inspections, he told the woman to run the bathroom faucet for 10 minutes and he would return.

When no one returned, the woman called police. She later discovered an unspecified amount of cash, credit cards and jewelry stolen from a cabinet.

Police said neither suspect wore a uniform or showed identification. Witnesses reported a white pickup truck in the woman's driveway and a man with a clipboard at the time of the incident.

The suspects were described as white men with dark hair. One stands about 5-feet 4-inches and has a thin build; the "boss" is about 5-feet 10-inches with a heavy build, police said.

The incident remains under investigation.

Police say anyone approached with similar suspicious activity should call 911 immediately. Authorities also are reminding residents to always ask strangers for identification before allowing them into a home.