Suburban Police Seek Suspects In 'Ruse Burglary'
WHEATON, Ill. (STMW) - Wheaton police are warning homeowners to be on guard against 'ruse burglaries' after four men asking for water burglarized a home in the west suburb Sunday, two weeks after a similar attempt.
The ruse happened Sunday at a home in the 600 block of West Lincoln Avenue in Wheaton, according to a release from the city. The four suspects knocked on the inside garage door and asked to borrow some boiling water to use for construction work they said they were doing next door.
Three of the four men, described only as white or possibly Hispanic, went through the house removing valuables while one distracted the homeowner, according to the release. They left quickly in a dark, four-door sedan.
A similar ruse was reported on Oct. 10 in the 1000 block of Kingston Street, also in Wheaton, according to the release. In that incident, three men asked a resident to borrow hot water but did not get into the home and left in a blue pickup truck.
No one is in custody as of late Tuesday, according to the release.
City officials are reminding residents to not allow strangers access to their yard, home or garage, and call 911 to report suspicious people asking for access to a home, the release said. Also known as "gypsy scams," ruse burglaries are a favorite method of operation for residential burglary and often prey on senior citizens.
Anyone with information is asked to call the Wheaton Police Department's Detective Division Commander James Volpe at (630) 260-2055.
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