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SCHAUMBURG, Ill. - An 88-year-old man had jewelry and cash stolen from his Schaumburg home after a suspect posed as a landscaper and distracted the man, while another suspect searched the home for valuables.
At about 1:05 p.m. on Thursday, police responded to a suspected ruse burglary at a home in the 1500 block of Myrtle Park Street.
When officers arrived, they discovered that one of the unidentified offenders posed as a landscaper and entered the victim's home to distract him while another offender searched the house for valuables.
The offenders then left in a white vehicle, possibly a small van or SUV, police said.
The victim noticed two bedrooms had been rummaged through, and jewelry and cash were missing.
Detectives believe the man was the victim of a ruse entry burglary, which is when an offender poses as a worker or neighbor to distract a victim while another offender enters the home to take cash and valuables.
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Police provided the following safety tips to avoid falling victim to ruse burglaries:
- Talk through the door.
- Do not let anyone you are not expecting into your home.
- If the person says he or she is a utility employee, call that agency to verify that an employee has legitimate business at your home. Do not use the phone number the person at the door gives you.
- Note any vehicle information – license plate, make and model of the vehicle.
- Call 911 immediately if you encounter anyone suspicious.
Anyone with information regarding this burglary is asked to call detectives at 708-865-4896.