Arlington Heights police recently received suspected diversionary theft attempts involving snow removal scams in the 700 block of South Walnut Avenue and the 500 block of West Wing Street.
As a result of the recent heavy snows, the Arlington Heights Police Department has received two complaints from senior residents involving unsolicited offers by unknown subjects to shovel snow and salt private walkways.
In each reported incident, the victims reported male subjects knocked on their door and offered to either shovel snow or salt sidewalks and driveways for $500.00. In each incident and after snow removal services were first refused, the male subjects repeatedly attempted to re-negotiate a lesser cost for the snow removal service.
In one of the incidents, the unknown snow removal contractor entered the victim’s home and directed the home owner to gather a “paper and pencil” to help calculate the costs of “salt bags”. Based upon previous reports, techniques to distract a homeowner with unusual tasks are indicative of diversionary burglary. In past reports, the distraction allows a criminal accomplice to enter a victim’s home and remove items without the victim’s knowledge.
In each incident the subjects were described as male/white with an approximate age of 30 with either thin or heavy physical builds. Based upon their appearance and accents, each victim believed the offending subjects to be European decent.
In one incident the three male offenders fled the victim’s home in a white colored 4-door vehicle.
The Arlington Heights Police Department recommends residents NEVER allow solicitors or contractors to enter their home without an appointment and refuse door-to-door sales.
Residents experiencing similar incidents should immediately call 911 for Police response.
Anyone having information about this or any other serious crime in Arlington Heights should submit an anonymous text tip by texting the keyword 847AHPD and your message to 847411(tip411) or call Arlington Heights Crime Stoppers at (847) 590-STOP. Callers are guaranteed anonymity and may qualify for a cash reward of up to $1,000.
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