Here’s a Christmas dinner conversation topic: Police are warning of thieves who have twice targeted elderly citizens in Lake View this month, most recently on Tuesday afternoon.
The offenders pose as repairmen to gain access to victims’ homes or to distract the victim while other offenders steal property.
In Tuesday’s incident, the thieves approached a 68-year-old woman in the 1600 block of Barry around 3:30PM and offered to repair holes in her home’s foundation. After the men left in a pick-up truck, the woman realized that they had stolen her wallet from her vehicle.
Around 2PM on December 18, three offenders gained entry to a 91-year-old woman’s home in the 3400 block of Paulina by saying that they were there to perform an electrical service check. One of the offenders distracted the woman while others took cash from her purse.
The suspects are described as white men between 30 and 40 years of age.
Police Recommendations
Area North detectives recommend taking the following steps:
- Tell your elderly family members and neighbors about the crime pattern.
- Do not allow unsolicited repairmen into your home or property. Call 911 if they attempt to enter without permission
- Offenders in these cases tend to drive pickup trucks or work vans with removable magnetic business signs on the sides. Try to obtain vehicle descriptions and license plate information if suspicious activity takes place.
- Always request identification and confirm the validity of service calls before allowing anyone who claims to be a service representative into your home.
If you have information about these cases or have experienced similar crimes, call Area North detectives at 312.744.8263 and refer to pattern P14-N-229 or case numbers HX547496 and HX552957.
