Senior Thwarts Ruse Burglar Seeking 'Warm Water For Road Work'

PALOS PARK, IL — A Palos Park homeowner in her late seventies thwarted an attempted ruse burglary by a man posing as a road worker, police said.

Just before 5 p.m. Wednesday in the 9000 block of 119th Street, a man wearing a mask knocked on the homeowner’s door and said he needed to come into her house to get “warm water for roadwork.” The man claimed to be a worker from a road crew working in 119th Street.

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The homeowner noticed a second man sitting in a blue pickup truck. Sensing the purported road worker was trying to distract her by luring her outside, she locked her door and called the police. The two men took off down Keane Avenue. Officers canvassed the area and didn’t find them.

Police said the homeowner regularly attends crime prevention forums hosted by Palos Park Police Commissioner Dr. Dan Polk.

Senior citizens are often targeted by ruse burglars, according to authorities. Palos Park police offer these tips to prevent being a victim of ruse burglaries:

• Keep your storm doors locked.
• Never allow anyone inside your home without a prescheduled appointment.
• If someone tells you they’re from the local municipality, ask the person to provide identification aand call the government office to verify the individual.
• Do not leave your home with an unscheduled visitor.
• Keep an extra watch on older relatives and neighbors.
• Educate relatives and neighbors about ruse burglaries, “grandma” callers and other scams.