Man From 'Water Department' Burglarizes Palatine Home: Sheriff

PALATINE, IL — A man posing as a member of the "water department" burglarized a Palatine home last weekend, according to the Cook County Sheriff's Office. In a Friday social media post, police warned residents to be "vigilant" and said the investigation is ongoing.

On Dec. 30, a man described as 5-foot-9, wearing a reflective yellow jacket, black hat and mask, claimed to be with the water department as part of a ruse burglary. Police define a ruse burglary as a crime in which the offender uses a "ruse" to distract the victim in order to commit the burglary.

Ruse burglars have posed as utility workers, public officials, door-to-door salesperson, person looking for a lost pet and a lost person asking for directions, according to police. They often work in pairs, with one distracting the homeowner while another enters the home from a secluded point.

Police said the burglars are targeting senior citizens, especially those living alone, who may suffer from cognitive issues or memory problems.

How to prevent ruse burglaries, according to CCSO:

• ask for identification
• call company and verify the employee is doing the work in the neighborhood
• always lock door behind you when you lave your residence
• do not offer access to your home

Police are asking residents who have seen suspicious vehicles and/or subjects approaching neighbors, or feel they were the victim of a ruse burglary, to call the Cook County Sheriff's Police Investigation section at 708-865-4896 or call 911 if the incident is in progress.