Three people posing as government workers or plumbers have used the ruse to get into houses and steal small items, according to police.(Hat tip: ND!)
They say they needed to “check the pipes” for “leaks, or other imminent problems,” according to a Chicago Police Department release.
They then walk off with money, keys, jewelry and electronics – “items they can easily carry,” according to the release.
The homes have been targeted in the 900 and 1000 block of South Park Terrace in the Dearborn Park neighborhood, according to police.
All three men are either white or Hispanic with straight black hair, according to descriptions released by police.
One is 5-feet-11 and weighs about 270 pounds and appears to be between 38 and 40 years old.
Another is 30 to 35, 5-feet-3, about 160 pounds, and the third appears about the same age and weighs about 150 pounds. He’s about 5-feet-6.
The three were seen leaving in a white late-1980s or early-1990s van.
Anyone with information is asked to call Belmont Area Detectives at (312) 744-8263.
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Monday, January 23, 2012
3 Men Crew Targeting Homes in Dearborn Park Neighborhood
A reader sends us this alert from the Chicago Tribune:
WHY BELMONT AREA DETECTIVES?
ReplyDeleteDoes district 1 actually DO ANYTHING?
Looks like all those walls surrounding Dearborn Park can't keep the "undesirables" out. Uh-oh. Time to put up the electric fence or something.
ReplyDeleteWowww its amazing that this sort of thing would happen here. People are supposed to be so "educated" here, its just shocking. Did they ask the perps for some employee badges or were they wearing the companys logo apparel? This whole situation just makes me wonder; Are people just trusting of other non-minority people? Something tells me a black person or a darker hispnaic wouldn't been able to get that far without showing ID. Hell the owners probably wouldn't have opened the door until they saw it through the window. This would make a cool sociology expierment or a great dissertation.
ReplyDeletetayiah I live here, are you calling me racist? Many of the residents in this area are black, asian, as well as white. Seems like you may be your own worst enemy....
ReplyDeleteThe Police Department has 25 Districts, each district belongs to 1 of 5 Areas, the 1st District is part of Area 3 or the Belmont Area. Each Area has a detective division so detectives doing work in the 1st District are part of the Belmont Area Detective Division.
ReplyDeletetayiah,
ReplyDeleteYou should check out the queen of all race baiters. Mary Mitchell. She seems to be admitting she would not be afraid of a while kid asking for something, but a bit apprehensive if the same request came from a black youth....". Will there be outrage from her article? Heck no.
Absolutes and statistics can get you killed.
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http://www.suntimes.com/news/mitchell/10090466-452/david-mamets-race-at-the-goodman-theatre-looks-at-biases.html
"The first thing I noticed when I pulled into the bank driveway to use the ATM was the idling car off to the side.
A young white man inside the car was trying to get my attention. I rolled down my window.
“Do you have a pen?” he asked. It was dark, but I didn’t hesitate to open my purse and fish out a pen.
I thought about this moments later while watching David Mamet’s “Race” at the Goodman Theatre.
The play gives the audience a surprisingly hilarious look at the ways race can catch us off guard and expose biases that most of us would swear we do not have.
Outside of his goofy hat, the white guy who needed my pen looked harmless.
But how would I have reacted had the young man been black? Would I have rolled down the car window, or would I have pretended not to notice him at all?
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The police were talking about this at the meeting on Saturday. They are targeting the elderly, this kind of thing happens literally everywhere (especially in nice areas, that's the point) one of the oldest tricks in the book, elderly people are generally more trusting, and worried more about possible issues from things like broken pipes, and are more likely to have cash and jewelry in the house.
ReplyDeleteA good security thing to have in the city is a good flare gun.
ReplyDeleteGuns are illegal but flare guns are not.
Buy one and if these guys come around light their asses up!
Anonymous January 24, 2012 1:06 AM
ReplyDeleteI'm not a race baiter, you have just confirmed whatI've been thinking all along. If the person would have have been black or hispanic you wouldn't have given the pen. I can see how grown adults would open the door, but I don't see how they would actually let them in without an company ID. I just find this story so fascinating, and I will submit this idea to the abc 7 show "What would you do"? I'm going to use this story as background.
Tayiah,
ReplyDeleteWhat would I do, I would honestly shoot their butts with a flare gun. I wouldn't feel a bit of sympathy either. They try and steal from me and they're going to get one.