Wilmette Police Bust Alleged Ruse Burglar

A 32-year-old Chicago man was arrested on July 14 by Wilmette detectives for allegedly committing a residential burglary in the 200 block of Briar Drive earlier this month.

James J. Miller was apprehended in LaSalle County "where he was being held on an unrelated residential burglary charge," according to a statement released Wednesday by Wilmette Police Chief Brian King. After being transported to the , Miller was positively identified in a lineup on July 15 by the Briar Drive victim.

The crime, which occurred on July 5, has been deemed by police as a ruse burglary. ()

According to police: "Miller and another unidentified subject approached the elderly residents and presented themselves as village employees and construction contractors. Miller and his partner attempted to confuse and distract the homeowners.  Later it was discovered that money was removed from the homeowner’s bedroom."

Police are still seeking the second offender in the Briar Drive incident. Miller will appear in court July 22 1:30 p.m. at the Skokie Court House.

Meanwhile, in light of the half dozen ruse burglaries Wilmette experiences each year, police are offering the following safety tips:

1. Do not allow a utility workers or someone who purports to be a village employee to access your home, unless you yourself requested their service.  Village employees and utilities workers will not come to your home unnounced and offer to perform services that you did not previously request.
   
   If someone you did not call appears at your door requesting access, do not let them in, do not follow them to your yard; instead immediately call the Wilmette Police Department by dialing 9-1-1.
   
   
2. Ruse burglary crews typically target elderly residents. Please watch out for your neighbors. If you observe two or three individuals decend on a neighbor’s home, especially an elderly couple’s house,  check it out by stopping by or calling. Attempt to get a license plate number to later report to the police if you believe it's suspicious. If circumstances warrant, do not hesitate to call the Wilmette Police.