Plumbing ruse used to steal ring in Streamwood

A man claiming to work for a plumbing company stole a white gold diamond wedding ring valued at $12,645 from a Streamwood woman’s home, police said.

The woman, who lives in the 0-100 block of Phillippi Creek Drive, told police that around 5:55 p.m. Jan. 28, the man rang the doorbell and her husband let him in because it was so cold outside.

The husband was distracted because he was on the phone as the offender told his wife there were problems with broken water pipes and asked her to turn on the kitchen faucet.

When the water hit her hands, the man told her that there was acid in the water and she should take off her rings and give them to him. He said he would take them out to his truck and wash them so they wouldn’t be destroyed by the water. He did not return.

He was described as 5-foot-9, 150-160 pounds, medium build, wearing a light gray hat and a dark gray heavy jacket.