N. Aurora cops warn of ruse burglars targeting senior citizens

North Aurora police are investigating several ruse burglaries that targeted senior citizens.

The first happened at 12:15 p.m. Nov. 11 in the 2400 block of South River Road. A white woman in a small, older red pickup truck claimed to be with an electrical utility company. She told a resident she needed to check the lines inside the home after a recent storm. The 86-year-old homeowner let her in and took her to the basement. The suspect turned on a water faucet; police believed she did so to mask the fact that an accomplice was entering the home. The second person rifled through a file cabinet. Nothing was missing.

The next was at 3:49 p.m. Saturday in the 0-100 block of South Juniper Drive. Two men told the 83-year-old homeowner they were buying a house in the area and wanted information about the home. Jewelry and collectible coins were taken. The men were described as Hispanic. One was about 5 feet 6 inches tall, wearing a brown Carhartt-type jacket. The other was about 5 feet 9 inches. A surveillance video showed them driving a white, late-model Ford Escape.

The third happened at 4 p.m. Sunday in the 500 block of North River. Two men told the homeowners, ages 82 and 83, that they were putting up a fence and wanted the couple to show them the lot line markers.

Afterward, the couple discovered about $25,000 in jewelry, including a wedding ring, was missing. The suspects were described as white or Hispanic, with one in his 30s and another in his mid-20s.

A ruse burglary is typically done by two or more people. One distracts or confuses the victim, allowing the other person to enter the home undetected.

Anyone with information about these burglaries may call the police department's Investigations Division at (630) 897-8705 or Aurora Area Crime Stoppers at (630) 892-1000.