Police: Burglary ruse targeting elderly Bridgeport residents

Police are warning elderly residents of a ruse burglary over the past month in the Bridgeport neighborhood on the South Side.

The suspects drive around residential neighborhoods looking for elderly people inside or outside their home, according to a community alert from Chicago Police.

Then, the suspects walk up to the home and tell the victim that they are utility workers, city employees, cable TV technicians or contractors. The suspects tell the homeowner that they are checking for a problem, like with water pressure or a fuse, or that they need something, like a bucket of water or to use the phone, police said.

Once inside the home, one suspect kept the victim distracted or asked them to step outside to ask a question, while one or more suspects entered the home and took money and jewelry, police said.

The burglaries occurred at 1:52 p.m. Jan. 17 in the 3200 block of South Parnell Avenue and at 3:50 p.m. Feb. 1 in the 2900 block of South Throop Street, police said.

Police remind residents that if a person claims to work for local government they should ask the person for identification and call the government office to verify, and do not exit your home with “an unscheduled visitor,” police said.

Anyone with information about these burglaries should contact Area Central detectives at (312) 747-8382.