Ruse Burglaries on the Rise in Lake County

Submission by the Lake County Sheriff’s Office 

The Lake County Sheriff’s Office is reminding homeowners to be especially cautious during the summer months as authorities have already started to see a spike in ruse burglaries in the area.

A ruse burglary is a distraction technique used to lure homeowners outside of their home.  After the homeowner is outside the home and distracted by one individual, another individual, or individuals, enters the home to target items to steal such as cash, jewelry, and other items of value, according to a Lake County Sheriff’s Office press release. 

Suspects will use many excuses to lure homeowners outside the residence including claims of being subcontracted by local government, ploys of a broken pipe, schemes for landscaping services such as tree trimming, fence line questions, and so forth.  

In addition to luring homeowners outside the home, some offenders will divert homeowners’ attention inside their home.  

“If you see a person or car in the area you don’t recognize, or anything you feel is suspicious, safely take note of the vehicle or person’s description, the license plate, and call 911,” Undersheriff Ray Rose said. “ Deputies would rather respond to a false alarm than miss an opportunity to apprehend these burglars.”

•   Never allow anyone inside your home without a prescheduled appointment
• If an individual claims affiliation with your local government, ask the person to produce identification and call the government office to verify the individual       
• Do not exit your home with an unscheduled visitor, leaving your home and valuables as potential targets
• Keep an extra watch on elderly neighbors and family members reminding them of these types of criminal behaviors
• Educate your relatives and neighbors (especially the elderly), informing themruse burglaries are on the increase in Lake County
• Immediately report any suspicious activity by calling 911