Tinley Park Police Warn Of Ruse Burglaries In Town

TINLEY PARK, IL — Tinley Park police are sirening a warning to residents.

The police department is asking residents to be cautious when opening the door of your home for strangers, especially those who claim to be working nearby or with a utility company. The department said a ruse burglars' true purpose is getting into your house to steal your belongings.

The department said to always ask for some form of identification, and call the police department, or the company the stranger at your door claims to be working for. These are measures that could be made to possibly prevent a burglary in your home.

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In February, two ruse burglaries happened just days apart in Oak Lawn. In both instances, the homeowners were elderly, and the suspects posed as utility workers to gain entrance into their respective homes. After these burglaries took place, the department released the following tips to help keep people safe.

Tips to share with older family members or neighbors

Ruse burglars are part of a larger criminal enterprise. They'll drive around neighborhoods, casing houses for elderly homeowners working outside or relaxing in the yard. They'll engage the homeowners in conversation, offering to do home repairs (usually substandard work) or posing as utility workers. The whole time they will be assessing the senior's mental capacities. Here are a few tips to help prevent older family members and neighbors from becoming victims of ruse burglaries:

• Younger family members are encouraged to "role-play" with older loved ones or friends, who may not be tech-savvy or on social media to work out a plan should ruse burglars coming knocking on their door pretending to buy a car that isn't advertised or to check the gas meter.
• Be aware of anyone coming to your door or approaching you for unsolicited business. Always keep the storm door knocked.
• When outside gardening or cleaning the yard, carry a house key in your pocket and keep the doors to the home locked. Have a cell phone handy to call 911 should suspicious persons approach you.
• Take note of any vehicles in the area—cars, vans, trucks—that are suspicious or seem out of place, particularly those with missing front and/or rear license plates, or vehicles that appear to be in shabby conditions without identifying business markings on the sides.
• Request identification from the person who approaches and tell them you will verify any work to be conducted in the area with the police. If they're legit they will stand by while you call police and present credentials, however, if they're up to something nefarious, when the bad guys see that you're calling police, they'll leave.
• Keep jewelry and other valuables and cash in a safe place, preferably a bank safe deposit box.
• Ruse burglars are usually non-violent, but don't confront them. If they're inside your house, get to a phone if you can and call 911. You don't have to speak to the operator, just lay the LAN line or cell phone down.
• Most ruse burglars are only in the house for five minutes or less. If you can't get to a phone, try to get a license plate number and note the direction where the offenders are heading. Call 911 immediately after they leave, so police have a better chase of nabbing them.

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