Burglars Claim To Work For City, Talk Way Into Lake Forest Home

LAKE FOREST, IL — A team of burglars who talk their way into homes typically targets senior citizens, police warned. According to Lake Forest police, two people burglarized a home somewhere on the east side of town around 4 p.m. Monday.

The duo claimed to be employees of an environmental engineering company contracted to the city of Lake Forest, according to police. The burglars told the homeowner they needed to test the water quality because a neighbor's pipe had broken.

While the resident was distracted by one of the burglars, the other stole an unspecified amount of cash and jewelry from the home's master bedroom, according to police statement.

Police released an image of the burglar's car — a smaller, light-colored two-door sedan — parked in a driveway. Its make and model could not be determined from the grainy photograph.

Both suspects were described as average height and build, 25 to 40 years old and white with darker complexions. Police said they wore masks covering the majority of their faces.

To avoid such "ruse" burglaries, police reminded the public not to let anyone inside your home unless in the context of a scheduled appointment.

Lake Forest police asked anyone with information about the incident to contact Det. Phil Gualdoni by email or by phone at 847-810-3958.