A group of scheming burglars who’ve been targeting older residents in Albany Park may have made their way into North Center on Friday, according to a CPD report.
Police warned about the crew last month after they burglarized the homes of an 87-year-old woman and a 77-year-old man in separate incidents. The alert said the offenders pose as utility workers or city employees to access a victim’s home and steal valuables.
Around 12:15 p.m. Friday, an elderly resident apparently fell victim to the same scheme on the 2000 block of West Belle Plaine. According to a police report, two offenders claimed to be from the water department and then pushed their way into the man’s home after he opened the door.
One burglar then distracted the man while the other went through the house to take property. The victim was not injured.
Victims reported similar schemes last month.
Around noon on September 5, a man approached an 87-year-old woman who was doing lawn work in the 3800 block of West Foster and insisted on helping her, according to police. While he distracted the woman, two accomplices went into her home and took cash.
They targeted another woman on the 2800 block of West Eastwood. Police said a man claimed to work for the electric company as he directed the 77-year-old to follow him into the back yard around. Two accomplices took cash and jewelry from the woman’s home while she was distracted.
The Albany Park offenders are described as:
- a White male who stands 6’1” tall and wears a mask
- a male who stands 5’10” to 6-feet tall, weighs 200 to 240 pounds, and wears a mask, yellow vest, and radio
- a male with no further description
Anyone with information about the men can contact Area Five detectives at 312-746-7394 about crime pattern P21-5-075.
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