Jailed Man Charged Over Lincolnwood Ruse Burglary: Police

LINCOLNWOOD, IL — A jailed Chicago man has been charged over a residential burglary that occurred in north suburban Lincolnwood in February. His arrest is part of an ongoing investigation into a pattern of home burglaries in the area by a group of men, police said.

Vinny Miller, 24, of the 5700 block of Lawrence Avenue in Chicago, was charged May 16 with residential burglary. He has been in Cook County Jail since March 8 facing close to half a dozen other criminal charges, according to the Sheriff's department.

In addition to those charges, Lincolnwood police said he was one of three men who claimed to be sent by the water department to check the water in order to gain entry to homes.

Around 1:30 p.m. on Feb. 23, police responded to a burglary call in the 5400 block of North Kilbourn Avenue.

Residents said three men had entered their house without permission before running outside, jumping a fence and fleeing in a vehicle, according to police.

But the homeowner recognized the getaway ride from an incident two days earlier when three men showed up and knocked on the door asking if the house was for sale, police said.

Miller was later identified by a witness in a physical lineup, according to Lincolnwood police.

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After being accused by Lincolnwood police of participating a Feb. 23 home burglary, Miller now faces three felony counts of residential burglary, two counts of violating probation for thefts and one count of violating his bond from an aggravated kidnapping charge.

Investigators believe Miller is associated with a group of criminals that may have carried out more than 70 residential burglaries in the area, according to a news release from Lincolnwood Police.

» RELATED: Burglars Scammed Residents With Home Improvement Ruse: Police

Lincolnwood police continue to work with other jurisdictions to find more possible crimes that may have been committed by this ruse burglary crew, police said.

Miller has been held in Cook County since March without bond for some of those earlier charges, according to a spokesperson for the Cook County Sheriff's Office.

At a bond hearing last week, a judge set Miller's bail for the Lincolnwood charges at $250,000, and his next court appearance is set for June 2 in Skokie, according to the Sheriff's spokesperson.

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  Top photo | Vinny Miller booking photograph | Cook County Sheriff's Office