Mokena Resident Target Of Ruse Burglary: Police

MOKENA, IL — A Mokena resident was the target of a ruse burglary Saturday, according to Mokena Police Interim Chief Brian Benton. A ruse burglary is a home burglary where individuals typically work in pairs or more and pose as Village or utility company workers to gain access to the home. One person will distract the resident while the other will steal items from the home.

The ruse burglary happened at approximately 2 p.m. Saturday in the 19000 block of Lancaster Drive, Benton said. Police were called to the home and learned that two Hispanic males driving a gray SUV posed as employees of the Mokena Water Department to gain entry into the home, Benton said.

The resident told police that jewelry was stolen from the home, and the resident would contact police if anything else was found to be stolen, Benton said.

Mokena Police Department is asking anyone with information to call Mokena Police Department at (708) 479-3912.

Two other homes in the vicinity were the target of residential burglaries between Feb. 14 and Feb. 19 — one in the 10000 block of Lancaster Drive and the other in the 9800 block of Hastings Lane.Residents were not home during either of those incidents, and force was used to gain entry into the homes.

The Mokena Police Department is reminding residents that Village employees will always have official Village identification cards, and they will be in vehicles with the Village of Mokena logo on them. Utility workers will also have ID on them if they are at a residence to do work.

If there are any questions as to the identity of anyone claiming to be from the Village or a utility company, Mokena Police Department advises not to let them in and to call Mokena Police Department at (708) 479-3912.

Related: 2 Home Burglaries In Mokena Reported In Past 5 days: Police