Aurora police are investigating two recent attempted ruse burglaries that targeted elderly residents on the city’s East Side.

The first occurred at around 3:15 p.m., Sept. 4, in the 1100 block of Pleasant Terrace.

Police say this white pickup truck is the vehicle used by burglars in recent ruse robberies. CREDIT: APD

A 92-year-old man told police that he was approached by a man approximately 55 years old who led him into his back yard telling him that he needed to take some measurements for work he was supposedly performing at a business next door. The senior citizen became suspicious after the suspect couldn’t answer several questions and began to walk back to his house. When he got to the area of the garage, he noticed a second man. Both suspects entered a white pickup truck and left southbound on Pleasant Terrace.

When the man went back into his house, he noticed that several interior rooms showed signs of someone going through them looking for valuables. Although nothing was apparently missing, about $200 in damage was done to the doorway of a locker.

Upon examining video footage taken from a neighboring business, police discovered there were actually four suspects, all of whom were white males. The vehicle they were driving (picture attached), is a 2016 Chevrolet Silverado four-door, with tinted windows, chrome factory wheels, and a black tool box in the bed.

The second incident occurred at around 4:40 p.m. Sept. 15 in the 700 block of North Avenue and targeted an 88-year-old man and his 85-year-old wife.

The victims told police that a man knocked on the front door and led the woman out to the back yard offering supposed tree trimming services. Two other men then entered the home, one of whom was trying to engage the male victim in conversation in an attempt to distract him while the other man went upstairs. When the man realized he was being burgled, he told the suspect he was going to call the police. Both men then quickly left the residence and all three got into a white pickup truck similar to the one described in the incident on Pleasant Terrace.

The suspects in the latest incident were described as Hispanic by the victims, but police believe both burglaries may involve the same suspects. Nothing was apparently missing from the house on North Avenue.

Anyone with information is asked to call Aurora police investigators at 630-256-5500 or Aurora Area Crime Stoppers at (630) 892-1000. Callers to Crime Stoppers are anonymous and qualify for a cash reward of up to $5,000 for information that leads to any arrests. Tips can also be submitted through the Aurora Police Department’s free app available through iTunes, the Android Market, or Amazon App Store. Simply search for “My Police Department”, find the Aurora Police, and download.

SOURCE: Aurora Police Department