Rare coin leads to arrest in Lake Zurich ruse burglary

A Chicago man faces residential burglary charges after using a ruse to lure a Lake Zurich homeowner out of his home, then detaining the victim while the house was ransacked, authorities said.

Tony White, 37, of the 3200 block of Lawndale, is out on bond after posting 10 percent of a $100,000 bail, Lake Zurich police Cmdr. David Bradstreet said Tuesday.

On Nov. 28, White knocked on the door of a home on Denberry Drive and told the homeowner the property lines would need to be inspected, Bradstreet said. When White and the homeowner left the house, three other people entered the home and ransacked it while White kept the victim outside, Bradstreet said.

Later, White left the property and the homeowner went inside and saw he had been robbed, Bradstreet said. A rare coin collection and some heirloom jewelry pieces were taken.

In early January, an off-duty police officer was at a gold and coin show in Countryside and noticed one of the coins stolen from collection, Bradstreet said.

“We sent officers to the coin show and interviewed the merchandiser, and he identified White as the person who sold him the coins,” Bradstreet said. “From there, the victim picked White out of a lineup, and we issued a warrant for his arrest.”

White was arrested Jan. 5 and initially held on $500,000 bail, but that figure was lowered in mid-January, Bradstreet said.