Elderly Maine Twp. woman swindled out of $14,000

The Cook County sheriff's police is asking senior citizens to take notice after $14,000 was stolen from an elderly woman living near Des Plaines.

A man and woman approached the 84-year-old woman on June 15 at her home in Maine Township, police said. A man told the victim he was with the water department and needed to check her home's water because of a leak down the street that could have started on the victim's property.

A woman then approached the victim, asking to use her bathroom. The victim and woman walked inside. The woman then trapped the victim in her bathroom. After several minutes the woman left, and the victim found her bedrooms ransacked, with money and jewelry taken.

The man and woman were in their early 20s and driving a tan-colored SUV. If anyone has information on the ruse, call the sheriff's office at (708) 865-4896.