Three elderly Baltimore County residents recently became the victims of “deception burglars,” suspects who pose as legitimate workers to lure people into a false sense of security.
“Usually deception burglars show up in the warmer months,” said Baltimore County police spokesman Bill Toohey, who issued an alert saying such criminals have “surfaced again.”
In the latest case, an 85-year-old man in the 3400 block of East Joppa Road was approached by a stranger who said he wanted to discuss the victim?s backyard fence, police said. At the same time, a second suspect came to the front door and told the victim?s 79-year-old wife that he needed to look at the plumbing and check the water pressure, police said.
The second man told the woman to stay in the basement while he went upstairs and, while the couple was distracted, that man found a safe and took it, police said. The suspects left in a white Dodge Durango, according to police.
Earlier this month, an elderly man in the Catonsville area also was victimized by a team of deception burglars, police said.
Toohey said the criminals claim to be something they?re not in order to distract a homeowner. They may pose as contractors, utility workers, lost strangers or friends of neighbors, police said.
Police also ask neighbors of elderly residents to be alert.
