NORTHBROOK — Elderly owners of three Northbrook homes were victims of ruse burglaries between October 7 and 15 when they were lured out of the house so it could be robbed, according to Northbrook Police reports.
Dan Petka, the department’s community relations supervisor, said the crimes were similar in nature but the perpetrators’ descriptions did not contain enough detail to determine if they were the same people.
“These crimes are similar in that the victims were sort of older,” Petka told DailyNorthShore.com. “There have been similar crimes in the northern suburbs in the same timeframe.”
In two of the burglaries, the perpetrators said they were there to do tree trimming, and they asked the homeowner to follow them into the yard. In one case, the robber said he was hired by the homeowners association.
If someone arrives at the door claiming to be there to do work, Petka said, residents should be wary. If the homeowner did not schedule an appointment, he said the resident should not leave the home unattended.
“If they claim to be a handyman or a landscaper and you didn’t call them, call the police,” said Petka.
On October 7, the owner of a home in the 500 block of Lee Road told police she discovered jewelry including rings, earrings and two watches missing from a jewelry box in the house, according to the report. She said two employees of a handyman were there at the time.
On October 14, the owner of a home in the 2500 block of Windsor Drive told police a man came to her residence claiming he was hired by the homeowners association to trim trees, according to the report. The would-be workman asked her to accompany him to the backyard.
When the homeowner returned, she discovered the master bedroom closet door open and jewelry missing from a jewelry box. She told police the offender was approximately 30 years old.
On October 15, the owner of a home in the 1200 block of Waters Edge Lane reported to police a man of “short build” wearing “landscaper” clothing came to her door to trim trees and asked her to follow him into the rear yard, according to the report. After the robber left, the victim returned to her home to find to find the master bedroom ransacked with jewelry and cash missing.