Distraction Burglaries On The Rise In Radnor, Police Warn

Radnor Police are warning residents of a disturbing trend: distraction burglaries.

"Burglars are always finding new tricks and methods when it comes to burglarizing a home. One of the newest and trendiest is the 'distraction' burglary. It’s a con game really," according to local police.

A distraction burglary is when someone visits your home and tries to make their way inside with a lie or creates a ruse to distract the victim so an accomplice can sneak in.

The most frequent target for these distraction burglaries are the elderly and vulnerable, according to police.

"A distraction burglary involves witty manipulation, and if you don’t know the signs, you may fall victim to this type of crime, even if you have burglar alarm in place," police warn.

Common distraction burglaries include:

• Bogus emergency - Example: Someone posing as a utility worker comes to your home saying there is an emergency with your service.
• The Sympathy Card - Example: Someone comes to your door with a story intended to make you feel bad, such as a broken down car, lost pet, etc.
• Gypsy Scam - Someone comes to your door offering services, such as seal coating, but then does not complete the job as promised.
• Contractor Fraud - Professional contractors never go door-to-door looking for work, police warn.

Click here to read more about distraction burglaries from Radnor Police.