Ruse Burglary Attempted In Western Springs

WESTERN SPRINGS, IL — Three people who attempted to commit a ruse burglary in Western Springs were unsuccessful, police said. Their attempt occurred about 3:30 p.m. last Tuesday in the 4200 block of Gilbert Avenue.

According to a police report, the resident allowed a person claiming to be with the water department to enter the house and go into the basement. While with that person in the basement, two other people entered the house. When the resident went upstairs and saw the other two people, all three left the house, the report said. The resident reports that items were rummaged through, but nothing was taken.

A ruse burglary is where one person distracts the homeowner while another enters the house and commits theft.

In July, ruse burglars were successful in one instance in Western Springs.

Here is information from other reports from the Western Springs police:

• A customer at Hillgrove Tap, 800 Hillgrove Avenue, informed police that someone stole his wallet while the customer was sitting at the outdoor tables between 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. Thursday.
• Edwin Vargas, 20, of West Chicago, was cited about 9:30 p.m. Sunday at Ogden and Ellington avenues on charges of speeding, driving with a suspended or revoked license, operating an uninsured vehicle and speeding.
• Someone placed roofing nails on a driveway between 10 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Aug. 16 in the 5800 block of Ridgewood Avenue, resulting in a flat tire.
• A car parked in front of a house was hit last Tuesday in the 300 block of 53rd Street.
• Two neon signs were stolen from an unlocked garage between Aug. 16 and Aug. 18 in the 5000 block of Lawn Avenue.
• Two AT&T power boxes were defaced with spray paint Saturday in the 10 block of 41st Street.
• A car parked in front of Village Hardware, 835 Burlington Ave., was keyed about 4:30 p.m. Saturday.

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.