[WIA-COP] Deception Burglaries

From: COP@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
To: <COPList@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Fri, 2 Jan 2015 10:25:09 -0500
Community Resources Team

Crime Prevention Alert







Deception Burglaries



Deception Burglary is a type of crime that involves individuals who attempt to 
enter homes through deception or diversion. This is a scenario that we see 
played out more and more frequently. Seniors are sometimes targeted, but all 
citizens need to be aware of this crime and how it is perpetrated.



Here are some examples of how this type of crime is executed:



The suspect knocks on your door or approaches you while you are outside working 
on your yard, washing your automobile, etc. He or she claims to need your help 
or offers to do construction or maintenance type work outside your home. This 
offer requires you to accompany the suspect to look at your roof, fence, check 
property lines, etc. While the first suspect is diverting your attention 
outside, a second suspect enters your home and steals money, jewelry, and other 
valuables before you return. It may be days before you realize you have been 
victimized.



Another scenario involves the suspect(s) inquiring about the purchase of an 
item that you have displayed outside for sale, (e.g., car, boat, camper 
trailer, etc.). The first suspect will distract the homeowner while a second 
suspect enters the home and steals your valuables. The suspect sometimes agrees 
to purchase the item to get you more interested (or in this scenario more 
distracted) and agrees to return with the money. For obvious reasons they never 
return.    



A similar scenario can also take place inside your home. The suspect will come 
to your door claiming to be a representative of a utility, cable, telephone 
company, etc.  They will ask you to let them in to test the service. While you 
are assisting the first suspect who you believe to be a legitimate 
representative, the second suspect enters the home and steals your valuables.  



In all three of these scenarios the suspect diverting your attention will 
usually stay in contact with the second suspect by cell phone or two-way radio. 
This way the suspects can alert each other of potential problems that would 
jeopardize the success of the crime. 





Report any suspicious individuals or activity by immediately calling 911. If 
you can take note of license tag numbers, vehicle descriptions, or suspect 
descriptions without putting yourself at risk, it can be helpful to responding 
officers.





M.O.: Suspects posed as employees of the County, Water Department or BGE. The 
suspects would claim they need to check water/water pipes or do an inspection 
the basement/bathroom/property. The suspects would approach the victims and ask 
where the property line is to dig a ditch/do tree/fence work in the rear of the 
property. In two cases, suspects came to do driveway work and came back later 
asking for money or work. In some cases, the suspects wore bright yellow 
traffic vests and showed ID badges. In most cases, one of the suspects would 
distract the victim while the other suspect gains access to the home. Jewelry, 
money, safes containing personal identity items or money and silverware were 
taken from these homes.







 If you have been victimized by this type of scam or have any questions or 
concerns about this document contact the Baltimore County Police Department’s 
Community Resources Team, Detective Carl Lindhorst & Officer Bryan Dietsch@ 
410-887-5901.
[WIA-COP] Deception Burglaries

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