Clarendon Hills 86-year-old Victimized by Ruse Entry Burglars

An 86-year-old resident of Clarendon Hills lost her wedding ring and another piece of jewelry from her home after she was the victim of a ruse-entry burglary on March 13, according to Clarendon Hills Police Chief Ted Jenkins. 

The victim, a widow who lives alone, was picking up sticks in her front yard at approximately 1:23 p.m. when she was approached by two male subjects in a black GMC pickup truck. The truck entered the driveway and the subjects told the victim that they needed to take measurements along her property line for landscape work they were doing next door.

One of the subjects accompanied the victim to her backyard while the other entered the house through an unlocked front door and stole the jewelry, which Jenkins said was worth several hundred dollars but was likely priceless to the victim.

The subject outside was talking on his cell phone as he brought the victim to the backyard, Jenkins said. It's likely his partner was on the other end of the line listening in case the victim decided to go inside. 

After several minutes, the driver got back in the truck and left without ever taking any measurements in the victim’s yard. The victim reported the truck did not have a front plate and was unsure if it had a rear plate.

"It was really kind of cruel how they did it," Jenkins said. "Cruel in my eyes; clever if you’re a crook, I guess."

The subjects were described as white males with dark hair. One was a young man and the other was older, Jenkins said. 

It has been several years since the last ruse-entry burglary in Clarendon Hills, Jenkins said, but there have been others in the area recently. Last year, .

The chief said elderly residents are frequently the targets of such burglaries because they often live alone, offer less physical resistance, and are friendlier to strangers. Jenkins said spring is when most of these burglaries happen because there are lots of clean-up crews out as winter ends.

Ruse-entry burglars often pose as construction or maintenance worker offering to do some form of home repair. Jenkins said all Clarendon Hills public works employees, ComEd employees, and gas company employees wear ID badges. Be wary of any workers who do not, especially if you have not arranged for work to be done at your house. 

To verify Clarendon Hills public works activity at any time of day, call 630-323-2151. If you suspect that you are being targeted call 911.

For more information contact the at 630 286-5460.