At 3:00 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 2, 2021, Wheaton Police officers took a report of a ruse burglary that had occurred in the 300 block of West Union Avenue.
A resident reported that a man driving a dark pickup truck approached the resident in their driveway and stated he was scheduled to remove mold in the backyard. The resident allowed the man inside the residence to fill a bucket of water, and the man then went to the backyard and appeared to be checking the masonry. A second male stayed in the truck. After several minutes, the man checking the masonry stated he was done for the day and would return the following morning to complete the job.
The residents subsequently discovered their bedroom had been rummaged through and approximately $3,000 in jewelry was missing.
The suspects are described as:
- Suspect 1 – Hispanic male, 5'4" tall, thin build, 25-30 years old, dark baseball cap
- Suspect 2 – Hispanic male, heavy build
The vehicle is described as a black or dark blue older-model pickup truck
The Wheaton Police Department recommends the following to help avoid becoming victimized in a similar fashion:
- Require that workers show identification prior to allowing them into the house or on your property.
- City of Wheaton and utility workers will have identification issued by their employer that they can present to you.
- Reflective vests and clipboards are often used by burglars to appear official. Require that they show you proper identification.
- If you are unsure, call the company or City direct and ask for a supervisor to confirm the need for work.
- Avoid using unsolicited workers/companies who claim to be in the area offering discounts.
- Lock your home if you must accompany a worker outside.
- If you are suspicious of any person or need help verifying the legitimacy of a company, call 911 and ask for police assistance.
Anyone with information about this incident should contact Lieutenant Conway at 630-260-2079.