22 Recent Ruse Burglaries In Suburbs Follow Same Pattern: Police

GLENCOE, IL — The following information comes from the Glencoe, Winnetka and Northfield police departments as a record of police activity and incidents reported to the police. Anyone arrested is innocent unless proven guilty. Criminal charges represent merely accusations by the state and are often dropped or reduced.

GLENCOE

INCIDENTS

CAR BURGLARY (ATTEMPT)
Someone entered an unlocked Land Rover parked in the 1100 block of Hohlfelder Road and rifled through its glove compartment and center console, a resident reported on the morning of Jan. 15.

STOLEN CAR
Someone stole an unlocked VW that had been parked in the 500 block of Westley Road that had its key fob left inside, a resident reported shortly after 5:30 p.m. on Jan. 15.

THEFT
A resident in the 2100 block of Frontage Road reported on the morning of Jan. 16 that someone had stolen a box of financial and personnel records.

WINNETKA

INCIDENTS

UNIDENTIFIED ALARMING MATERIAL
Between 8:30 and 11:30 a.m. on Jan. 10, an employee at New Trier High School discovered inappropriate material left in a classroom. Police said they "cannot" provide further details.

NORTHFIELD

INCIDENTS

HOME BURGLARY ATTEMPT
A resident reported a dark complected male with a possible European accent had tried to get into a home on Winfield Drive shortly after 2 p.m. on Jan. 8. The man claimed he needed to discuss cutting down a tree on the property, but his attempt to get in was thwarted when the resident closed and locked the door. The resident last saw the suspected burglary running to a vehicle in the driveway. Detectives are investigating.

CRIMINAL DAMAGE
A resident in the 300 block of Dickens Street reported at 1:12 p.m. on Jan. 14 that someone had cut a strand of holiday lights on his property.

ARRESTS/CITATIONS

After police responded to a complaint of a suspicious vehicle in the 500 block of Somerset Lane at 7:39 a.m. on Jan. 11, a juvenile was arrested and cited for possession of an alcohol by a minor.

A 25-year-old Skokie woman was arrested at 5:31 p.m. on Jan. 11 near the intersection of Walnut Avenue and Willow Road and charged with driving on a revoked driver’s license and expired registration.

Community Safety Alert:

Recently there have been multiple reported “Ruse” burglaries in the area. These incidents have targeted senior citizens’ residences in which 2-3 males knock on resident’s door claiming to be a representative of the Village or City needing to check the resident’s interior water line regarding water issues in the area. Once the suspects make it into the home, a distraction of the resident is conducted by one individual, like running water or banging on pipes, while the others steal/target personal property of the resident. Police recommended not opening the door when an unknown person asks to check your residence for any reason. Call the Police first so these individuals can be verified.

Elements of crime pattern of recent ruse burglaries:

• Burglaries take place between 1 and 6 p.m.
• Common ruses used are “check the water” and “tree trimming” ruses.
• Three to four suspects arrive in the same vehicle.
• Suspects have been described as "dark complected males" between the ages of 30 and 40.

Towns and times of reported incidents:

• Wheeling: 2 p.m. Dec 14
• Northbrook: 2:30 p.m. Dec. 17
• Oakbrook: 2:36 p.m. Dec. 18
• Deerfield: 3 p.m. Dec. 18
• Glencoe: 1:30 p.m. Dec. 21
• Bloomingdale: 3:30 p.m. Dec. 21
• Northfield: 4:20 p.m. Dec. 21
• Northfield: 4:30 p.m. Dec. 21
• Northbrook: 5:45 p.m. Dec. 21
• Northfield: 3:35 p.m. Dec. 22
• Huntley: 4 p.m. Dec. 26
• Wheeling: 2 p.m. Dec. 27
• Grayslake: 2 p.m. Dec. 28
• Northbrook: 2:30 p.m. Jan. 1
• Niles: 4 p.m. Jan. 5
• Inverness: 1:10 p.m. Jan. 6
• Northbrook: 2:47 p.m. Jan. 8
• Winnetka: 2:52 p.m. Jan. 8
• Northfield: 3:13 p.m. Jan. 8
• Glenview: 1 p.m. Jan. 9
• Glenview: 2:20 p.m. Jan. 9
• Northbrook: 3:05 p.m. Jan. 9

Last Week: Rideshare Driver Picked Up Purchase Made With Stolen Card: Winnetka, Glencoe, Northfield Crime Reports: Jan. 4 - Jan. 10

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_{Top photo: Patch file, Tim Moran}