Fake Water Workers Burglarize Western Springs House: Cops

WESTERN SPRINGS, IL — A resident in the 3800 block of Ellington Avenue was the victim of a ruse burglary last week, Western Springs police said.

About 3:30 p.m. Oct. 25, the resident let two men into the house when they claimed to be utility workers who needed to check the resident's water, according to police.

When the men left, the resident discovered the house had been ransacked, police said. About $200 worth in cash and jewelry was stolen.

A similar burglary happened in Western Springs in July, five blocks away from the one last week. The crime is known as a ruse burglary in which one person distracts the homeowner while another enters the house and commits theft.

Here is information from other Western Springs police reports:

• Jaime A. Wetzel, 34, of Glendale Heights, was cited about 11:30 p.m. Friday in the 3900 block of Woodland Avenue on charges of driving with a revoked license, operation of an uninsured vehicle and only having one taillight.
• Signs posted on the Field Park school grounds were damaged overnight Oct. 25.
• Two signs supporting Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden were stolen between Thursday and Friday evenings in the 1400 block of Oak Street.

Police report information is provided by local police departments. Charges are not evidence of guilt. They are a record of police actions on a given day, and persons charged with a crime are presumed innocent until proven guilty in court.