The West Chicago Police Department is providing information to residents about ruse burglaries and ways to prevent them after a recent incident was reported.
A ruse burglary is an incident in which multiple offenders create a situation to gain access to a resident’s household. This may include offenders imitating utility workers, or City employees, and requesting residents to show them something in their yard, such as a water meter. In this scenario, while one offender is distracting the homeowner, a second offender enters the household to steal valuables. Often times, a homeowner may not be aware that items were stolen until later in the day.
The Police Department has provided the following tips to help keep residents aware of these types of incidents.
- Always ask for identification if someone requests to view or work on your house or property. The City and utility companies provide their employees with identification cards that are carried with them at all times.
- Be cautious of workers without an official marked vehicle.
- The City and utility companies will only visit your house if requested. Always request verification if you did not request a service, and do not allow someone to enter your house without your permission.
- Never allow anyone to perform immediate on-site repairs, such as driveway sealing. Research the person or company first as you may not know their reputation.
Always call 9-1-1 and inform the West Chicago Police Department of an incident in which there is any doubt regarding an unknown person or company visiting your household.